Exercise Capacity (METs & VO2)

Clinical Use

Estimate exercise capacity based on performance from exercise treadmill test

Formulas

$VO_2 = Speed \times [0.1 + (Grade \times 1.8)] + 3.5$

$METs = \frac{VO_2}{3.5}$

Speed in m/min = Speed in mph x 26.8

Reference Values

Classification of Estimated Functional Capacity According to Age and Gender
Age (yr)Estimated Functional Capacity (METs)
PoorFairAverageGoodHigh
Women
≤29<7.58–1010–1313–16>16
30–39<77–99–1111–15>15
40–49<66–88–1010–14>14
50–59<55–77–99–13>13
≥60<4.54.5–66–88–11.5>11.5
Men
≤29<88–1111–1414–17>17
30–39<7.57.5–1010–12.512.5–16>16
40–49<77–8.58.5–11.511.5–15>15
50–59<66–88–1111–14>14
≥60<5.55.5–77–9.59.5–13>13
METs = metabolic equivalents

1 MET = 3.5 ml/kg per min of oxygen consumption

References

 1 Peterson PN, Magid DJ, Ross C, Ho PM, et al. Association of exercise capacity on treadmill with future cardiac events in patients referred for exercise testing. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(2):174-179. Full text 2 Snader CE, Marwick TH, Pashkow FJ, Harvey SA, et al. Importance of Estimated Functional Capacity as a Predictor of All-Cause Mortality Among Patients Referred for Exercise Thallium Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography: Report of 3,400 Patients From a Single Center. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997 Sep;30(3):641-8. Full text

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Developer: Sirikarn Napan, MD, FACC