Table 2|.

Types of exercise tests

Feature	Exercise test without ventilatory expired gases	Exercise test with ventilatory expired gases	Walk tests
Key variables	• Electrocardiogram • Blood pressure •Heart rate during and after exercise •Estimated aerobic capacity •Self-reported symptoms	• Electrocardiogram •Blood pressure •Heart rate during and after exercise •Self-reported symptoms •Peak oxygen consumption •Ventilatory threshold •Peak respiratory exchange ratio •Ventilatory efficiency*	• Electrocardiogram •Blood pressure •Heart rate •Self-reported symptoms •Distance walked
Applications and utility	• Good assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness •Prognostic utility •Some diagnostic utility •Good information related to prescription of a physical activity and exercise plan	• Gold-standard assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness •Prognostic utility •Diagnostic utility •Refined information related to prescription of a physical activity and exercise plan	• General information regarding cardiorespiratory fitness •Some prognostic utility •Some ability to prescribe a physical activity and exercise plan
Advantages	• Lower costs to administer •Acceptable reliability and validity •Good prognostic information	• Excellent reliability and validity •Excellent multivariable prognostic information •Excellent multivariable prognostic information	• Low costs •Easy to administer •Well tolerated by patients
Limitations	• Handrail use increases cardiorespiratory fitness estimation error •Increased risk of patient apprehension or discomfort	• Higher cost and personnel resources •Increased risk of patient apprehension or discomfort	• Substantial estimation error for cardiorespiratory fitness

^*Ventilatory efficiency measures: minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope, oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), and partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (P_ETCO₂).