Reference values for aerobic capacity estimated by cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer in a healthy Greek population

Aerobic capacity (AC) is inversely associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as well as all-cause mortality. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) represents the gold standard for assessing exercise capacity based on maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The purpose of our study was to provide for the first time CPET-derived normative reference values in a Greek cohort of apparently healthy men and women on a cycle ergometer to evaluate their AC, and to compare our results with similar studies from other countries.