Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women
Abstract Menopause may contribute to declining aerobic capacity alongside aging; whether this is related to declines in physical activity or alterations in physiology is unclear. This study examined the effect of menopause on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary variables in an incremental aerobic...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Physiological Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70503 |
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| author | Catherine A. Rattley Paul Ansdell Matthew Armstrong Malika Felton Susan Dewhurst Karen Yendole Rebecca A. Neal |
| author_facet | Catherine A. Rattley Paul Ansdell Matthew Armstrong Malika Felton Susan Dewhurst Karen Yendole Rebecca A. Neal |
| author_sort | Catherine A. Rattley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Menopause may contribute to declining aerobic capacity alongside aging; whether this is related to declines in physical activity or alterations in physiology is unclear. This study examined the effect of menopause on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary variables in an incremental aerobic capacity assessment in active women. Sixty‐nine women, aged between 18 and 60 years, categorized as premenopausal (PRE), late premenopausal (LPRE), perimenopausal (PERI), and postmenopausal (POST) completed a cycle ergometer ramp aerobic capacity test, body composition analysis, and blood hormone testing. Naturally menstruating women were tested in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. One‐way ANOVAs were utilized to analyze the effect of menopause phase on outcome variables. Participant groups had similar V̇O2peak, physical activity levels, and endogenous sex hormone profiles (p > 0.05), but POST had lower muscle mass than PRE, LPRE, and PERI (p < 0.05). There were no differences in maximal or submaximal cardiopulmonary variables (p > 0.05). Age and V̇O2peak were not correlated (r = −0.23, p = 0.06). Contrary to prior reports, maintenance of aerobic capacity is possible throughout midlife and menopause in women with high activity levels. Compared to premenopausal and late premenopausal women, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women demonstrated minimal changes in maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary variables. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d576e14f68ce4468a494825186d44ee3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2051-817X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Physiological Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d576e14f68ce4468a494825186d44ee32025-08-20T04:03:20ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-08-011315n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70503Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal womenCatherine A. Rattley0Paul Ansdell1Matthew Armstrong2Malika Felton3Susan Dewhurst4Karen Yendole5Rebecca A. Neal6Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Science Bournemouth University Bournemouth UKDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Northumbria University Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne UKDepartment of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Durham University Durham UKDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Science Bournemouth University Bournemouth UKDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Science Bournemouth University Bournemouth UKDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology Bournemouth University Bournemouth UKDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Science Bournemouth University Bournemouth UKAbstract Menopause may contribute to declining aerobic capacity alongside aging; whether this is related to declines in physical activity or alterations in physiology is unclear. This study examined the effect of menopause on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary variables in an incremental aerobic capacity assessment in active women. Sixty‐nine women, aged between 18 and 60 years, categorized as premenopausal (PRE), late premenopausal (LPRE), perimenopausal (PERI), and postmenopausal (POST) completed a cycle ergometer ramp aerobic capacity test, body composition analysis, and blood hormone testing. Naturally menstruating women were tested in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. One‐way ANOVAs were utilized to analyze the effect of menopause phase on outcome variables. Participant groups had similar V̇O2peak, physical activity levels, and endogenous sex hormone profiles (p > 0.05), but POST had lower muscle mass than PRE, LPRE, and PERI (p < 0.05). There were no differences in maximal or submaximal cardiopulmonary variables (p > 0.05). Age and V̇O2peak were not correlated (r = −0.23, p = 0.06). Contrary to prior reports, maintenance of aerobic capacity is possible throughout midlife and menopause in women with high activity levels. Compared to premenopausal and late premenopausal women, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women demonstrated minimal changes in maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary variables.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70503exercise physiologymenopausewomen's health |
| spellingShingle | Catherine A. Rattley Paul Ansdell Matthew Armstrong Malika Felton Susan Dewhurst Karen Yendole Rebecca A. Neal Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women Physiological Reports exercise physiology menopause women's health |
| title | Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women |
| title_full | Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women |
| title_fullStr | Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women |
| title_short | Aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal, late premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women |
| title_sort | aerobic capacity and cardiopulmonary variables are not different between premenopausal late premenopausal perimenopausal and postmenopausal women |
| topic | exercise physiology menopause women's health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70503 |
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