TABLE 1

Equations used for calculation of predicted maximal oxygen consumption (V′_O₂_max)

First author [ref.], year	Characteristics of the population samples	Prediction equations for V′_O₂_max^#
Wasserman [11], 1999	The published equations were modified from: Hansen et al. [10] 77 males, 34–74 years Asbestos exposed workers with normal cardiorespiratory function, California, USA Bruce et al. [9] 138 males, 157 females, 29–73 years General population, Washington, USA	Men (50.72−(0.372×Age))×Weight (units of mL·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted value: 1.92 L·min⁻¹; no LLN can be calculated Women (22.78−(0.17×Age))×(Weight+43) (units of mL·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted value: 1.16 L·min⁻¹; no LLN can be calculated
Jones [8], 1985	50 males, 50 females, 15–71 years Subjects recruited by advertising from the local university and general population, Ontario, Canada	(0.046×Height)−(0.021×Age)−(0.62×Sex)−4.31 (units of L·min⁻¹) Sex: male=0; female=1 Men Example^¶: predicted: 2.09 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 1.14 (55% pred) Women Example^¶: predicted: 0.92 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 0.15 (16% pred)
Blackie [12], 1989	81 males, 47 females, 55–80 years Subjects recruited locally by advertising from hospital and community centres, British Columbia, Canada	Men (0.0142×Height)−(0.0494×Age)+(0.00257×Weight)+3.015 (units of L·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted: 2.11 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 1.25 (60% pred) Women (0.0142×Height)−(0.0115×Age)+(0.00974×Weight)−0.651 (units of L·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted: 1.45 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 0.90 (62% pred)
Koch [17], 2009	Disease-free subjects, 253 males, 281 females, 25–80 years Representative sample selected from the population registration offices in Pomerania, Germany	47.7565–(0.988×Age)−(0.2356×Age²)−(8.8697×Sex)+(2.3597×BMI) −(2.0308×Age×BMI)−(3.7405×Sex×BMI)+(0.2512×Age×Sex) +(1.3797×Age×Sex×BMI) (units of L·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) With: Age >65 years=5; Sex male=1, female=2; BMI ≤25 kg·m⁻²=0, BMI >25 kg·m⁻²=1 Men Example^¶: predicted: 1.97 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 1.43 (73% pred) Women Example^¶: predicted: 1.35 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 1.13 (84% pred)
Hakola [13], 2011	Nondiseased subjects, 117 males, 112 females, 57–78 years Subjects randomly selected from the town of Kuopio, Finland	Men 4.846−(0.039×Age) (units of L·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted: 1.91 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 1.12 (59% pred) Women 3.475−(0.031×Age) (units of L·min⁻¹) Example^¶: predicted: 1.32 L·min⁻¹; LLN: 0.70 (53% pred)

Exercise tests were performed using cycle ergometers. LLN: lower limit of normal; BMI: body mass index. ^#: for all equations, age is in years, height in cm and weight in kg; ^¶: Predicted V′_O₂_max and LLN (L·min⁻¹) have been calculated for an illustrative individual (72 years-old; male: 80 kg and 172 cm; female: 67 kg and 160 cm).