A comparative study of cardiopulmonary efficiency in athletes and non-athletes

This study was aimed to determine during exercise the maximum related oxygen transport viz, maximum heart rate (max HR), dyspnoeic index (DI), oxygen pulse (O2 pulse), recovery heart rate in an athletic and a non-athletic group. Both study groups were subjected to graded treadmill exercise testing and pulmonary function test (PFT) was done using an electronic spirolyser. Results were compared and analysed. Significantly higher values in athletes were observed as compared to non-athletes regarding the following parameters: VO2 max, V(E) max, delta heart rate and max O2 pulse where resting heart rate, DI at VO2 max and recovery heart rate were lower in athletes while there was no significant change in both the groups in observed value of: MW, BR at VO2 max HR. The observations suggest an overall higher adaptability of the cardiovascular system and the relative refractoriness of the respiratory system to the effects of training and the maximum oxygen consumption in both the groups show similar values as that from otherparts of the country while MW, V(E) max, BR at VO2 and DI at VO2 max differ. A higher delta heart rate in athletes suggests a lesser risk for cardiovascular mortality in this group.