Table 5.

Expected CPET parameters in healthy individuals and their response to exercise in athletes.

CPET Parameter	In healthy subjects [111, 112]	In elite Athletes [107, 110]
HR max	$\ge$85% age-predicted HR max	Equal or more
	HR increase 10 bpm per every 3.5 mL/kg/min of ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$
HR recovery	$>$12 beats at first-minute recovery	More
Blood pressure	SBP increase 10 mmHg per every 3.5 mL/kg/min of ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$	More
	DBP stable or fall
${\mathrm{SpO}}_2$	${\mathrm{SpO}}_2$ $\ge$95% (rest and exercise)	Equal or less
	${\mathrm{SpO}}_2$ should not decrease below 95%
${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ peak	Percent predicted values should be about 100%	Quite more
		Predictive equations for endurance athletes [110]
		➢ Treadmill: ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ peak (L/min) – 0.83(sex) + 0.033(height) – 0.017(age) – 1.15
		➢ Cycle: ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ peak (L/min) – 0.72(sex) + 0.048(height) – 0.00019(${\mathrm{age}}^2$) – 4.30
${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ at VT	Not mentioned	Quite more
Oxygen pulse	Percent predicted values should be about 100%	Quite more
	Continual linear rise throughout the exercise with possible plateau approaching maximal exertion
Breathing reserve	$>$20%	Less
VE/${\mathrm{VCO}}_2$ slope	30 throughout the exercise	No differences
${\mathrm{PETCO}}_2$	Not mentioned for apparently healthy individuals (usually resting ${\mathrm{PETCO}}_2$ is between 36 and 42 mmHg)	No differences
OUES	Not mentioned	No differences

CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise test; HR, heart rate; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; ${\mathrm{SpO}}_2$, peripheral oxygen saturation; ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ peak, oxygen consumption at peak exercise; ${\mathrm{VO}}_2$ at VT, oxygen consumption at the ventilatory threshold; VE/${\mathrm{VCO}}_2$ slope, minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope; ${\mathrm{PETCO}}_2$, partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide; OUES, oxygen uptake efficiency slope.