Cardiorespiratory fitness and population attributable risk: the ETHOS study

New Evidence Reinforces the Role of VO₂max in Longevity Assessment

A recently published 2026 study from a prominent team, adds further evidence to the growing body of research supporting cardiorespiratory fitness, and particularly VO₂max, as an important biomarker of long-term health and longevity.

The study showed that improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness over time were associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Importantly, the results suggest that VO₂max should not only be viewed as a snapshot of current fitness, but also as a dynamic physiological marker that can be monitored over time to assess changes in health status and intervention effectiveness.

These findings further strengthen the relevance of accurate metabolic and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in emerging areas such as preventive health, longevity medicine, performance optimization and wellness.

For COSMED and our partners, this represents an important opportunity to reinforce the value of objective VO₂ measurement as part of a comprehensive approach to healthspan and longevity assessment.