Table 3.
Inter-observer agreement of CPET-derived parameters in subgroups of observers using the self-preferred and guideline-based approach
| SPA V̇O2VAT ICC (95% CI) |
GBA V̇O2VAT ICC (95% CI) |
SPA V̇O2peak ICC (95% CI) |
GBA V̇O2peak a ICC (95% CI) |
SPA V̇E/V̇CO2-slope ICC (95% CI) |
GBA V̇E/V̇CO2-slope ICC (95% CI) |
GBA OUES b ICC (95% CI) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profession | |||||||
| Sports physician (n = 17) | 0.77 (0.57–0.93) | 0.87 (0.74–0.97) | 0.97 (0.99–1.0) | 1.00 (1.00–1.00) | 0.83 (0.70–0.94) | 0.97 (0.94–0.99) | 0.99 (0.97–0.99) |
| Sports medicine residents (n = 5) | 0.83 (0.66–0.94) | 0.87 (0.71–0.97) | 0.99 (0.99–1.00) | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) | 0.87 (0.75–0.96) | 0.97 (0.97–1.00) | 0.98 (0.96–0.99) |
| Clinical exercise physiologist (n = 4) | 0.66 (0.35–0.89) | 0.76 (0.51–0.91) | 0.87 (0.73–0.96) | 0.99 (0.97–1.00) | 0.97 (0.93–0.99) | 0.97 (0.93–0.99) | 0.97 (0.92–0.99) |
| CPET experience | |||||||
| ≤ 7 years (n = 13) | 0.81 (0.63–0.94) | 0.87 (0.72–0.97) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) | 0.88 (0.77–0.96) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) | 0.99 (0.97–0.99) |
| 7 years (n = 13) | 0.72 (0.50–0.92) | 0.86 (0.71–0.96) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) | 1.00 (1.00–1.00) | 0.84 (0.71–0.94) | 0.97 (0.93–0.99) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) |
| CPET experience in health-compromised populations | |||||||
| ≤ 6 years (n = 12) | 0.78 (0.60–0.92) | 0.88 (0.75–0.97) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) | 1.00 (1.00–1.00) | 0.90 (0.82–0.97) | 0.98 (0.96–0.99) | 0.98 (0.97–1.00) |
| > 6 years (n = 14) | 0.75 (0.54–0.93) | 0.83 (0.67–0.95) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) | 1.00 (1.00–1.00) | 0.82 (0.67–0.93) | 0.96 (0.92–0.99) | 0.97 (0.96–0.99) |
| Number of CPETs interpreted annually | |||||||
| ≤ 150 (n = 14) | 0.75 (0.54–0.93) | 0.88 (0.74–0.97) | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) | 1.00 (1.00–1.00) | 0.82 (0.67–0.93) | 0.98 (0.96–0.99) | 0.98 (0.97–0.99) |
| > 150 (n = 12) | 0.79 (0.62–0.93) | 0.83 (0.69–0.94) | 0.95 (0.90–0.98) | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) | 0.90 (0.81–0.97) | 0.96 (0.92–0.99) | 0.98 (0.95–0.99) |
aInterpret with caution, as ICC values are based on a small number of valid observations
bOnly determined by using the guideline-based approach
Abbreviations: CI Confidence interval, CPET Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, GBA Guideline-based approach, ICC Intraclass correlation coefficient, OUES Oxygen uptake efficiency slope, SPA Self-preferred approach, V̇E/V̇CO2-slope Slope of the relationship between the minute ventilation and carbon dioxide production, V̇O2peak Oxygen uptake at peak exercise, V̇O2VAT Oxygen uptake at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold