One Minute Stair Step Test in Predicting VO2 max among Healthy Young Adults

Lisna Anisa Fitriana, Upik Rahmi, Setiawan Setiawan, Lucky Angkawijaya Roring, Hamidie Ronald Daniel Ray, Roman Ardian Goenarjo, Zulkarnain Jaafar, Farida Murtiani

Abstract


Background: Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, are increasing among Indonesian young adults despite their apparently healthy status. Valid field methods for assessing VO₂max, a key indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness, are needed for large-scale screening. This study validated the one-minute stair step test (OMSST) against the Bruce treadmill protocol as the reference standard.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 51 healthy males (20.41±0.57 years, BMI 22.52±3.28 kg/m²) in Bandung, Indonesia. VO₂max was measured using the Bruce protocol and estimated using the OMSST (40-cm step, 30 steps/min). Anthropometrics variables, heart rate recovery at 60 seconds (HRR60), and multiple regression variables (age, height, weight, and HRR60) were analyzed using paired t-tests, correlations, and Bland-Altman plots.

Results: The mean VO₂max estimated using the OMSST (50.91±3.29 mL/kg/min) closely matched that measured Bruce protocol (49.75±3.61 mL/kg/min; p=0.091), with a small positive bias (1.16 mL/kg/min) and 95% limits of agreement within acceptable bounds. A strong correlation (r=0.85, p<0.001) confirmed validity. HRR60 (91.12±15.10 bpm) significantly predicted VO₂max.

Conclusion: OMSST is a valid, simple, low-cost field surrogate for laboratory VO₂max testing in young males, ideal for middle-income settings. Future studies should assess diverse populations and longitudinal reliability.


Keywords


Bland-Altman analysis, cardiorespiratory fitness, heart rate recovery, step test, VO₂max

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15850/amj.v13n2.4662

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