Proof-of-concept and concurrent validity of a prototype headset to assess peak oxygen uptake without a face mask

OBJECTIVE: Portable gas exchange instruments allow the assessment of peak oxygen uptake (V̇O(2peak)) but are often bulky, expensive and require wearing a face mask thereby limiting their routine application. A newly developed miniaturized headset (VitaScale, Nuremberg, Germany) may overcome these barriers and allow measuring V̇O(2peak) without applying a face mask. Here we aimed (i) to disclose the technical setup of a headset incorporating a gas and volume sensor to measure volume flow and expired oxygen concentration and (ii) to assess the concurrent criterion-validity of the headset to measure V̇O(2peak) in 44 individuals exercising on a stationary cycle ergometer in consideration of the test–retest reliability of the criterion measure. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation (CV%) while measuring V̇O(2peak) during incremental cycling with the headset was 6.8%. The CV% for reliability of the criterion measure was 4.0% for V̇O(2peak). Based on the present data, the headset might offer a new technology for V̇O(2peak) measurement due to its low-cost and mask-free design. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05850-y.