Changes in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained women: 7-yr follow-up

1 Human Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 80309; and 2 Divisions of Cardiology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262 On the basis of cross-sectional data, we previously reported that the absolute, but not the relative (%), rate of decline in maximal oxygen consumption ( O 2 max ) with age is greater in endurance-trained compared with healthy sedentary women. We tested this hypothesis by using a longitudinal approach. Eight sedentary (63 ± 2 yr at follow-up) and 16 endurance-trained (57 ± 2) women were reevaluated after a mean follow-up period of 7 yr. At baseline, O 2 max was ~70% higher in endurance-trained women (48.1 ± 1.7 vs. 28.1 ± 0.8 ml · kg 1 · min 1 · yr 1 ). At follow-up, body mass, fat-free mass, maximal respiratory exchange ratio, and maximal rating of perceived exertion were not different from baseline in either group. The absolute rate of decline in O 2 max was twice as great ( P