Ventilatory equivalents
Abstract
Abstract Key Points: • Ventilatory equivalents (Veq) are best considered as a representation of how the relationship between VE and VO2 (or VE and VCO2) is changing during a CPET. • VeqO2 and VeqCO2 provide an estimate of how many millilitres of VE are needed to get a millilitre of O2 into (or CO2 out of) the lungs, respectively. • VeqCO2 fall during the initial part of a CPET, as V/Q matching becomes more even. • Mathematical reasons related to the plotting method elevate the VeqCO2 at low VE. • Beyond the anaerobic threshold, VeqO2 rise as ventilation increases (in response to CO2 generated from buffering of lactic acid), without any increase in VO2.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Biomedical and Chemical Research
Sports Performance and Training
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Oxford University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 91–96
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter