The level of cardiorespiratory capacity, as measured by maximum VO(2)max oxygen consumption, is a significant factor related to the risk of metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease and other health disorders. A total cohort of 2901 examinations was divided into 5 groups according to the nature of physical activity: group A - endurance athletes, group B - team sports players, group C - other competitive athletes, group D - recreational leisure-time athletes, group E - people with health problems. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed according to the VO(2)max and METmax parameters found in the stress test on a bicycle ergometer. A gradually increased load until exhaustion was used. While in groups A to D cases that would be classified as NYHA 1 (METmax lower than 9) were quite rare (10 cases out of 2777, i.e. 0.3 %), in groups E it was 20 % in men (16 cases out of 82) and 52 % in women (23 cases out of 44) of those examined. Accordingly, fitness age in groups A, B and C generally corresponded to a lower age than the calendar age, in groups E of both men and women, fitness age was significantly higher compared to the calendar age. High fitness age represents a significant risk of morbidity in relation to non-communicable diseases and probably also a significant limitation of their quality of life in later age.

Department of Electronics and Information Technology RICE University of West Bohemia Plzeň Czech Republic

Department of Sports Medicine Medical Faculty of Charles University Plzeň Czech Republic

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