What is VO2 a measure of?

The measure of VO2 refers to the total amount of oxygen consumed by the body per minute. This metric is essential in assessing an individual's aerobic capacity and overall cardiovascular fitness. VO2 is often expressed in milliliters of oxygen consumed per minute per kilogram of body weight (mL/min/kg), allowing for comparisons across individuals with different body sizes.

This measurement plays a crucial role in exercise physiology and is utilized in various clinical settings, particularly in evaluating patients' functional capacity during cardiac rehabilitation. Monitoring VO2 can help perfusionists and clinicians assess how well the heart and lungs are functioning together to supply the body with oxygen during periods of activity or stress. A higher VO2 indicates more efficient use of oxygen, which correlates with better endurance and cardiovascular health.

Understanding VO2 also aids in determining the effectiveness of different therapeutic and rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving patients' cardiac and respiratory performance.