METs (metabolic equivalents) Calculator
- METs Calculator: Explanation and Clinical Context
Metabolic equivalent, or MET, is a standardized physiological measure used to estimate the energy cost of physical activities. One MET represents the resting oxygen consumption of approximately 3.5 ml per kilogram per minute. This value corresponds to the average resting metabolic rate of an adult. METs are derived directly from peak oxygen consumption, allowing clinicians to convert VO2 peak into a standardized measure of functional capacity.
Clinical significance
METs play a central role in the objective assessment of exercise capacity, cardiovascular fitness, and prognosis. Higher MET levels indicate greater aerobic capacity and improved cardiopulmonary function. In populations with cardiovascular disease, METs provide a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality. A one MET improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness is consistently associated with a significant reduction in all cause and cardiovascular mortality risk. METs are also used for exercise prescription, cardiac rehabilitation planning, risk stratification before major surgery, and interpretation of exercise stress test performance.
Clinical interpretation summary
One MET equals the oxygen consumption at rest. METs increase proportionally with workload and reflect the integrative performance of cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, and muscular systems. A typical healthy adult achieves 8 to 12 METs during maximal exercise testing. Values below 5 METs indicate markedly reduced functional capacity and are associated with increased perioperative and long term cardiovascular risk.
References
American Heart Association. Exercise Standards for Testing and Training. Circulation. 2013;128:873-934.
Arena R, Myers J, Williams MA, et al. Assessment of Functional Capacity in Clinical and Research Settings. Circulation. 2007;116:329-343.
Kodama S, Saito K, Tanaka S, et al. Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Mortality. JAMA. 2009;301:2024-2035.
Thompson PD, Arena R, Riebe D, Pescatello L. ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Wolters Kluwer; 2014.
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