Abstract Background: Maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max) is associated with lower cardio- vascular and total mortality. Step tests can be used to provide an estimate of (VO,max) in epidemiological or home-based studies. We compared different methods of estimation of VO2. max and heart rate recovery and evaluated the relationship of these estimates with cardiovas- cular risk factors. Methods: Data were analysed from 2286 participants in the Tecumseh Community Health Study (>16 y and