Ventilatory responses to exercise and CO2 after menopause in healthy women: Effects of age and fitness

► Examined the influence of age and fitness on ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and exercise in postmenopausal women. ► There was an inverse relationship between the HCVR gain and fitness, regardless of age. ► Age inversely affects ΔV˙E/ΔV˙CO2 above the AT, regardless of fitness. ► This was due in part to age-related decreases in progesterone and FEV1.