Estimation of Oxygen Consumption from Pulmonary Ventilation during Exercise

Abstract

Pulmonary ventilation ( _E) and oxygen uptake ( _O2) were measured and regressions between them were found for men and for women exercising from light levels (1.3 kcal/min) to maximal levels (20 kcal/min) of work. Increases in pulmonary ventilation were proportionately greater than increases in oxygen consumption, and, therefore, nonlinear regressions were determined for a range of _E which was wider than the linear regressions previously suggested by other investigators. Because the data for men and women diverged, two separate curves were computed. In addition to the sex differences, each equation had an adjustment for age. The standard error of estimate for _O2 was 0.21/min.