Principal Investigator:
Jerome L. Fleg, Edward G. Lakatta, Jeanette Wright, Frances C. O'Connor.
Collaborating Investigators: (none)
Year First Collected: 1964
Year Last Collected: 1998
Frequency of Collection: n/a
Subset Data Files on the VMS Cluster? Files info144.*, Active as of 11/97.
For access to these data, please contact Dr. Jerry Fleg.
Data Type Notes:
(none)
Descriptive History:
Expired gases are collected continuously throughout the treadmill exercise test, allowing
measurement of VO max, the "gold standard" for assessing physical fitness. Although our
cross-sectional hypothesis on aging changes in VO2 max in both sexes has been answered, we
lack enough longitudinal VO2 data over eight years to determine whether these trends differ
from cross-sectional data. Many BLSA studies performed by our laboratory and others use the
VO2 max as the covariate representing physical fitness.
(b). Hypothesis:
VO2 max is an independent predictor of many indices of cardiovascular and metabolic
function.
( c). Other Reasons for Testing:
For use of VO2 as a covariate for other laboratories interested in assessing the effect of
physical fitness on other physiological and clinical variables.
(d). Themes:
1. Continuity and Change
2. Differing Paths of Development
3. Mechanisms of Stability and Change
4. Precursors of Disease and Adaptational Outcomes
5. Basic Research
2 (a). Schedule of Administration:
Alternate visits
(b). Differential Schedule by Age? If so, specify:
No
( c). Time per participant:
45-60 minutes (done simultaneously with treadmill ECG)
(d). Requirements or Restrictions:
All ambulatory BLSA subjects without overt coronart artery disease.
.................................................................Male..........Female
American Indian or Alaskan Native......................................
Asian or Pacific Islander.......................................................
Black, not or Hispanic Origin........................4..................11
Hispanic.................................................................................
White, not of Hispanic Origin......................97..................76
Other or unknown...................................................................
Total:...........................................................101.................87
(f). Progress:
We are achieving high quality tests with our on-line computer-assisted measurement
system, which has been in place since Dec. 1990.
(g). Plans and Specified Goals:
Having published our cross-sectional VO2 max results on aging changes in VO2 max, we
are currently analyzing longitudinal data to determine the predictors of within-subject change in
VO2 max over time. We hope to introduce the acetylene rebreathing technique to measure
cardiac output during maximal treadmill exercise.
(h). Problems
None
(I). Publications and Abstracts since 6/30/94
Fleg JL, O'Connor FC, Tochman MS, Wright JG, Lakatta EG. Arterial desaturation does
not contribute to the age-associated decline in maximal oxygen consumption. J Am Coll Cardiol
(in press).
(f). Progress:
We continue to perform exercise ECG's, primarily as a screening test for silent coronary
heart disease.
(g). Plans and Specific Goals:
To continue our current testing schedule. We are currently performing a detailed analysis
of all exercise ECG's to determine the combination of clinical and exercise variables most
predictive of future coronary events in apparently healthy subjects.
(h). Problems:
None.
(i). Publications and Abstracts since 6/30/94:
Maurer MS, Shefrin EA, Fleg JL. Prevalence and prognostic significance of
exercise-induced supraventricular tachycardia in apparently healthy subjects.
Schulman SP, Fleg JL. Stress Testing for Coronary Artery Disease in the Elderly
(Cardiovascular Clinics, in press)
Vaitkevicius PV, Fleg JL. An Abnormal Exercise Treadmill Test in an Asymptomatic Older
Patient (J. of the American Geriatrics Society, in press)