Validity and Reliability of the VO2 Master Pro for Oxygen Consumption and Ventilation Assessment

Validity and Reliability of the VO2 Master Pro for Oxygen Consumption and Ventilation Assessment

Abstract

This study assessed validity and reliability of the VO2 Master Pro portable metabolic analyzer for assessment of oxygen consumption (VO2) and minute ventilation (VE). In Protocol 1, eight male participants (height: 182.6 ± 5.8 cm, weight: 79.6 ± 8.3 kg, age: 41.0 ± 12.3 years) with previous competitive cycling experience completed an hour-long stationary cycling protocol twice, progressing from 100-300 Watts every 10 minutes while wearing the VO2 Master and a criterion measure (Parvomedics) for five minutes each, at each stage. In Protocol 2, 16 recreationally active male participants (height: 168.2 ± 8.4 cm, weight: 76.5 ± 13.3 kg, age: 23.0 ± 9.4 years) completed three incremental, maximal stationary cycling tests wearing one of three analyzers for each test (VO2 Master version 1.1.1, VO2 Master version 1.2.1, Parvomedics). For Protocol 1 and convergent validity, the VO2 Master had mean absolute differences from the Parvomedics of <0.3 L/min for absolute VO2 and <5 L/min for VE overall and at each exercise stage. Mean absolute percent differences (MAPD) for VO2 and VE were <9% overall and <12% at each stage. Test-retest reliability of the VO2 Master (MAPD: 8.9-10.9%) was somewhat poorer than the Parvomedics (MAPD: 5.3-7.6%). For Protocol 2, validity was similar for both VO2 Master models (MAPD ~12% overall) compared to the Parvomedics for VO2 and VE. The VO2 Master had an acceptable validity and test-retest reliability for most intensities tested and may be an appealing option for field-based VO2 and VE analysis.

Keywords: Metabolism; VO2max; indirect calorimetry; metabolic analysis; portable metabolic analyzer.

Alexander H K Montoye 1Joseph D Vondrasek 1James B Hancock 2nd 2

Figure 1 Parvomedics and VO2 Master (version 1.1.1) oxygen consumption measures during hour test protocol. Error bars represent standard deviations. *Indicates significant difference from Parvomedics analyzer (p<0.05). ^Indicates non-significant trend toward difference from Parvomedics analyzer (p=0.05–0.10). N=8 for 100–250 W and n=5 for 300 W. Parvomedics: Parvomedics TrueOne 2400 metabolic analyzer; VO2 Master: VO2 Master Pro version 1.1.1 metabolic analyzer; W: Watts.
Figure 2 Parvomedics and VO2 Master (version 1.1.1) ventilation measures during hour test protocol. Error bars represent standard deviations. *Indicates significant difference from Parvomedics analyzer (p<0.05). ^Indicates non-significant trend toward difference from Parvomedics analyzer (p=0.05–0.10). N=8 for 100–250 W and n=5 for 300 W. Parvomedics: Parvomedics TrueOne 2400 metabolic analyzer; VO2 Master: VO2 Master Pro version 1.1.1 metabolic analyzer; W: Watts.
Figure 3 Parvomedics and VO2 Master (versions 1.1.1 and 1.2.1) oxygen consumption measures during maximal test protocol. Error bars represent standard deviations. Note that 300 and 350 Watts do not have standard deviations, and statistical tests were not performed, due to sample size of n=1. n=13 for 100–200 Watts, n=7 for 250 Watts, and n=1 for 300–350 Watts. *Indicates significant difference from Parvomedics analyzer only (p<0.05). Parvomedics: Parvomedics TrueOne 2400; VO2 Master 1.1.1: VO2 Master analyzer version 1.1.1. VO2 Master 1.2.1: VO2 Master analyzer version 1.2.1; W: Watts.
Figure 4 Parvomedics and VO2 Master (versions 1.1.1 and 1.2.1) ventilation measures during maximal test protocol. Error bars represent standard deviations. Note that 300 and 350 Watts do not have standard deviations, and statistical tests were not performed, due to sample size of n=1. n=13 for 100–200 Watts, n=7 for 250 Watts, and n=1 for 300–350 Watts. ^Indicates non-significant trend toward difference from VO2 Master version 1.2.1 analyzer (p=0.05–0.10). Parvomedics: Parvomedics TrueOne 2400; VO2 Master 1.1.1: VO2 Master analyzer version 1.1.1. VO2 Master 1.2.1: VO2 Master analyzer version 1.2.1; W: Watts.

Original article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33042375/