Longitudinal Changes in Aerobic Capacity: Implications for Concepts of Aging

Abstract

Our findings emphasize the primary importance of declining FEV(1) and declining maximal exercise heart rate in accounting for the "aging effect" on aerobic capacity. Thus, when comparing longitudinal studies, all estimates of aerobic decline should be interpreted with respect to the specific variables included in the models, which also need to include FEV(1) and maximal exercise heart rate.