Abstract

Physiologic responses to maximal graded exercise testing are reported for 3,55 2 apparently healthy women aged 18-75 years. Exclusion criteria were a history of chronic disease or failure to achieve 85 of age-adjusted predicted maximum heart rate. Physical fitness and body mass index (BMI) varied significantly across age groups. In univariate analyses, life-style and demographic factors such as physical activity status, smoking habits, caffeine and alcohol intake, and educational level were associated with physical fitness and physiologic responses to exercise. Multiple regression analyses indicated that most lifestyle and demographic factors explained little of the variance in physiologic responses to exercise. Normative values for physiologic responses adjusted for physical fitness, physical activity status, and BMI are presented as an aid to clinical interpretation of maximum exercise test responses in women. Verf.-Referat