A Generalized Equation for Prediction of VO2peak from a Step Test.

This study aimed to develop an equation to reduce variability of VOpeak prediction from a step test and compare VOpeak prediction from the new equation to the Queen's College Step Test (QCST). The development group (n=86; 21.7±2 years) was utilized to develop the SDState step test equation to predict relative VOpeak. The cross-validation group (n=99; 21.6±2 years) was used to determine the validity of the SDState step test VOpeak prediction equation. A regression analysis was used to identify the best model to predict VOpeak. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was further used to determine differences among predicted and measured VOpeak values. Forward stepwise multiple regression identified age, sex, abdominal circumference, and active heart rate at the 3-min mark of the step test to be significant predictors of VOpeak (mL·kg·min). No differences among measured VOpeak (47.3±7.1 mL·kg·min) and predicted VOpeak (QCST, 46.9±9.3 mL·kg·min; SDState 48.3±5.7 mL·kg·min) were found. Pearson correlations, ICC, SEE, TEE, Bland-Altman plots, and Mountain plots indicate the SDState step test equation provides less variation in the prediction of VOpeak compared to the QCST. The SDState step test equation is effective for predicting VOpeak from the YMCA step test in young, healthy adults.