1. What is a METS Stress Test Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines Metabolic Equivalents (METS) from oxygen consumption (VO₂) measurements during exercise stress testing.

Purpose: Used in cardiology and exercise physiology to quantify exercise intensity and assess cardiovascular fitness.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{METS} \) — Metabolic equivalents (dimensionless)
• \( \text{VO}₂ \) — Oxygen consumption (mL/kg/min)
• 3.5 — Resting oxygen consumption (1 MET = 3.5 mL/kg/min)

Explanation: METS represent how many times greater than resting metabolism the exercise intensity is.

3. Clinical Importance of METS

Details: METS are used to:

• Assess functional capacity
• Evaluate cardiovascular health
• Prescribe exercise intensity
• Predict surgical risk

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the VO₂ value measured during peak exercise (in mL/kg/min). The value must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal METS score?
A: Healthy adults typically achieve 8-12 METS. Below 5 METS indicates poor functional capacity.

Q2: How is VO₂ measured?
A: Through cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using metabolic cart equipment.

Q3: What's the clinical significance of METS?
A: Higher METS correlate with better cardiovascular health and lower mortality risk.

Q4: Can METS be estimated without VO₂ measurement?
A: Yes, through treadmill speed/grade or bicycle workload using standard equations.

Q5: What's the resting METS value?
A: By definition, 1 MET (3.5 mL/kg/min) is resting oxygen consumption.