VO₂max: understanding your cardiorespiratory fitness
VO2max is one of the most valuable measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and an important indicator of how effectively your heart, lungs, blood and muscles work together.
This year we introduced VO₂max testing in our health assessments using advanced seismocardiography and AI. Our Seismofit® Sensor analyses the mechanical vibrations of your heartbeat to provide a precise VO₂max estimate in under three minutes, without the need for strenuous exercise.
But what does your VO₂max actually tell you, and how should you interpret your result?
What is VO2max?
VO2max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise. Reflecting the combined performance of several systems in a single measurement, VO2max is widely used as a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness.
A higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness generally indicates that your body can deliver and use oxygen more efficiently. This is important not only for exercise performance, but also for everyday physical capacity and maintaining health as we age.
Research has consistently associated higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. For this reason, VO₂max is increasingly recognised as an important measure indicator of overall health.
What does my VO2max result tell me?
Your result is interpreted in the context of your age and sex to provide a more meaningful understanding of your current level of fitness, giving you a baseline that can be monitored over time.
At Preventicum, we believe this longitudinal picture is particularly valuable. A single result provides insight into where you are today, whereas repeat assessments can show how your fitness is changing and how your health responds to changes in exercise, lifestyle or other factors.
Your VO₂max result is also considered alongside the other findings from your assessment. It is one part of a much broader picture of your cardiovascular and overall health.
Is a higher VO₂max always better?
In general, higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better health outcomes. However, your VO₂max should not be considered in isolation, and a small difference in score does not necessarily represent a meaningful difference in health.
Your result can also be influenced by a number of factors, including age, sex, body weight, genetics, health conditions and certain medications. This is why we place greater emphasis on understanding your result in context and monitoring the direction of change over time than on focusing on a single number.
How does the Preventicum test differ from a wearable?
Many smartwatches and fitness trackers provide an estimate of VO₂max based on data such as heart rate and movement during exercise. These can be useful for monitoring general trends, but they are estimates and their accuracy can vary between individuals.
The Seismofit® Sensor used at Preventicum takes a different approach. Developed by Cardiologists, it uses advanced seismocardiography to analyse the mechanical vibrations generated by your heartbeat while you are lying still. The technology and its underlying algorithms are continually refined and the resulting VO₂max estimate, obtained in just a few minutes without strenuous exercise, has been clinically validated against laboratory exercise testing.
This makes it particularly well suited to our advanced health assessments, where we want to gather meaningful information across a wide range of measures without adding unnecessary physical exertion to your day.
Measured or estimated VO2max: what is the difference?
The gold-standard method of measuring VO₂max is a laboratory exercise test, which measures your oxygen consumption through your breathing as you exercise to maximal effort. However, this level of exertion could influence your performance and the results of your exercise stress echocardiogram in our Optimal and Ultimate Assessments, which we prioritise due to its clinical value in identifying signs of coronary artery disease and guiding proactive management.
We have chosen to complement this with Seismofit®, an innovative, exercise-free method of estimating VO₂max, adding meaningful insight into your cardiorespiratory fitness.
What can affect my VO₂max?
Your VO₂max naturally changes throughout life and can be influenced by several factors.
Age
VO₂max generally declines with age, although regular physical activity can help to maintain cardiorespiratory fitness.
Sex
Average VO₂max values differ between men and women, which is why your result is interpreted in the context of your sex and age.
Body composition
VO₂max is expressed relative to body weight, meaning changes in body composition can influence your result.
Genetics
Individuals respond differently to exercise, and genetics can influence both your starting point and how much your VO₂max changes with training.
Health and medication
Certain health conditions and medications can affect your result. Your Preventicum Doctor will consider these factors when reviewing your assessment findings.
For these reasons, it is important not to focus too heavily on a single reading. Repeated assessments under similar conditions can provide a more meaningful picture of how your cardiorespiratory fitness is changing.
Can I improve my VO₂max?
VO₂max is a measure that can respond positively to regular physical activity.
Aerobic exercise that raises your heart rate and breathing rate, performed consistently over time, can improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Higher-intensity interval training can also be effective for some people, alongside lower-intensity aerobic activity.
However, the amount an individual can improve varies considerably depending on their age, genetics, health and starting level of fitness.
If you are considering starting or increasing an exercise programme, particularly if you have any existing health concerns, it is important to discuss this with your Doctor or an appropriately qualified exercise professional.
Why we include VO₂max at Preventicum
At Preventicum, our health assessments are designed to build a detailed picture of your health by bringing together thousands of measurements, images and data points.
VO₂max adds another important dimension to that picture. It provides insight into your cardiorespiratory fitness and, when repeated over time, can help us understand how this aspect of your health is changing.
Combined with your cardiovascular investigations, blood tests, imaging, body composition analysis and clinical review, it forms part of a broader assessment designed to identify potential risks early and give you a clearer understanding of your health.
Because prevention is not simply about identifying problems. It is also about understanding where you are today and how your health changes over time so that that a personalised plan can be created to optimise your health.
If you have any questions or would like to book your next health assessment, you can schedule a call with our Client Relations Team, call 020 7605 6900 or email us.
