VO2 Max Percentile for 47-Year-Old Male with Value of 36.4 mL/kg/min
A VO2 max of 36.4 mL/kg/min in a 47-year-old male falls approximately at the 40th-50th percentile, representing below-average to average cardiovascular fitness for this age group. 1
Age-Specific Reference Values
The American Heart Association provides normative data showing that men aged 40-49 years have a mean VO2 max of 40 ± 7.2 mL/kg/min (approximately 11 METs), with the range extending from approximately 33 mL/kg/min at the lower end to 47 mL/kg/min at the upper end of normal distribution. 1
Your value of 36.4 mL/kg/min falls below the mean for this age group but within one standard deviation, placing it in the lower-middle range of normal fitness. 1
For context, men aged 30-39 years average 42 ± 7.0 mL/kg/min (12 METs), while those aged 50-59 years average 36 ± 7.1 mL/kg/min (10 METs), demonstrating the progressive age-related decline in aerobic capacity. 1
Fitness Classification Context
Based on the FRIEND Registry reference equation, which analyzed 7,783 healthy individuals aged 20-79 years, a VO2 max of 36.4 mL/kg/min in a 47-year-old male represents approximately 85-90% of predicted maximum for age, weight, and sex. 2
The Swedish working population data (n=263,374) using submaximal testing showed mean estimated VO2 max values of 36.9 mL/kg/min for men using the Åstrand-test and 42.4 mL/kg/min using the Ekblom-Bak test, suggesting your value aligns with the lower end of the general working population. 3
For comparison, aerobically trained males in this age range typically demonstrate VO2 max values of 50-58 mL/kg/min, while elite endurance athletes can exceed 65-68 mL/kg/min. 1, 4
Clinical Interpretation
This value indicates fair cardiovascular fitness with substantial room for improvement through regular aerobic exercise. 1
The value is well above the clinical threshold of concern: cardiopulmonary exercise testing guidelines classify peak VO2 ≥20 mL/kg/min as Ventilatory Class I (best prognosis), and your value of 36.4 mL/kg/min falls comfortably in this category. 1
However, it falls short of the 42 mL/kg/min (12 METs) standard recommended as minimum acceptable fitness for occupations with high physical demands, such as firefighting. 1
Age, exercise level, and BMI are the primary determinants of VO2 max, with exercise level explaining approximately 8-10% of variance and BMI explaining 23-29% of variance in population studies. 3