Longitudinal changes in aerobic power in older men and women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the longitudinal (10 yr) decline in aerobic power [maximal O2 uptake (V̇o2 max)] and anaerobic threshold [ventilatory threshold (TV̇e)] of older adults living independently in the community. Ten years after initial testing, 62 subjects (34 men, mean age 73.5 ± 6.4 yr; 28 women, 72.1 ± 5.3 yr) achieved V̇o2 max criteria during treadmill walking tests to the limit of tolerance, with TV̇e determined in a subset of 45. V̇o2 max in men showed a rate of decline of −0.43 ml·kg−1·min−1·yr−1, and the decline in V̇o2 max was consequent to a lowered maximal heart rate with no change in the maximum O2 pulse. The women showed a slower rate of decline of V̇o2 max of −0.19·ml·kg−1·min−1·yr−1 ( P < 0.05), again with a lowered HRmax and unchanged O2 pulse. In this sample, lean body mass was not changed over the 10-yr period. Changes in V̇o2 max were not significantly related to physical activity scores. TV̇e showed a nonsignificant decline in both men and women. Groupings of young-old (65–72 yr at follow-up) vs. old-old (73–90 yr at follow-up) were examined. In men, there were no differences in the rate of V̇o2 max decline. The young-old women showed a significant decline in V̇o2 max, whereas old-old women, initially at a V̇o2 max of 19.4 ± 3.1 ml·kg−1·min−1, showed no loss in V̇o2 max. The longitudinal data, vs. cross-sectional analysis, showed a greater decline for men but similar estimates of the rates of change in women. Thus the 10-yr longitudinal study of the cohort of community-dwelling older adults who remained healthy, ambulatory, and independent showed a 14% decline in V̇o2 max in men, and a smaller decline of 7% in women, with the oldest women showing little change over the 10-yr period.