Mixed
Higher peak aerobic power (VO2peak) is the primary predictor of long-term survival in men with coronary heart disease, with each 1 mL/kg/min increase reducing mortality risk by 9%.
For men with heart disease, improving aerobic fitness is the single most effective way to extend life. You don't need elite fitness; even small gains in VO2 (measured by how much oxygen you use during peak exercise) significantly lower your risk of dying. Focus on supervised cardiac rehabilitation to safely build this capacity.
a 1-mL/kg per minute increment in V˙ O2peak could be equated with a 9% improvement in prognosis (hazard ratio, 0.91)... the primary factor influencing prognosis in coronary heart disease patients is the individual’s effort tolerance, as assessed objectively by the measurement of V˙ O2peak.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=12,169), long follow-up (median 7.9 years, up to 29), prospective observational design, multivariate adjustment.
Source
Prediction of Long-Term Prognosis in 12 169 Men Referred for Cardiac Rehabilitation
Terence Kavanagh et al. · Circulation · 2002
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