Peak cardiac power output in healthy, trained men

Previous investigations into peak cardiac power output (CPO peak) have been limited to clinical populations and healthy, but non-athletic adults, and normative data on trained individuals would allow a greater understanding of this parameter. Therefore, we recruited eight healthy, well-trained male cyclists. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) was assessed using an incremental ergometer test, and following a 40-min recovery period, peak cardiac output (QT peak) was measured during a constant load test that elicited VO2 peak (+/- 5%) using the Defares CO2 rebreathing technique. CPO peak was calculated as described by Cooke et al. (1998). Mean (+/- SD) values during the constant load test were: VO2 peak, 4 center dot 94 +/- 0 center dot 41 l min(-1); QT peak, 36 center dot 5 +/- 3 center dot 7 l min(-1); mean arterial pressure, 123 +/- 8 mmHg and CPO peak, 9 center dot 9 +/- 1 center dot 0 W. These results demonstrate CPO peak in a well-trained population to be approximately twice those observed in healthy, but non-athletic adults. The current data provide useful information regarding the upper limits and possible 'trainability' of cardiac pumping capacity for sedentary and clinically compromised individuals.