Accurate prediction of cardiorespiratory fitness using cycle ergometry in minimally disabled persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Objective: To examine the accuracy of predicting peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak) primarily from peak work rate (WR_peak) recorded during a maximal, incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer among persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who had minimal disability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Clinical research laboratory. Participants: Women with RRMS (n=32) and sex-, age-, height-, and weight-matched healthy controls (n=16) completed an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer to volitional termination. Intervention: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Measured and predicted VO_2peak and WR_peak. Results: There were strong, statistically significant associations between measured and predicted VO_2peak in the overall sample (R ²=.89, standard error of the estimate=127.4mL/min) and subsamples with (R²=.89, standard error of the estimate=131.3mL/ min) and without (R²=.85, standard error of the estimate= 126.8mL/min) multiple sclerosis (MS) based on the linear regression analyses. Based on the 95% confidence limits for worst-case errors, the equation predicted VO _2peak within 10% of its true value in 95 of every 100 subjects with MS. Conclusions: Peak VO₂ can be accurately predicted in persons with RRMS who have minimal disability as it is in controls by using established equations and WR_peak recorded from a maximal, incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer.