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Analysis of heart rate variability at rest and during aerobic exercise: a study in healthy people and cardiac
B de la Cruz Torres1, C López López, J Naranjo Orellana
1Centro Andaluz de Medicina del Deporte, CAR La Cartuja, Isla de la Cartuja s/n Sevilla, 41092, Spain.
Insights
Heart rate variability (HRV) differs significantly between healthy individuals and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients at rest and during exercise. HRV analysis reveals distinct patterns, aiding in risk assessment and performance evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system function.
- Reduced HRV is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
- Understanding HRV changes during exercise is crucial for assessing cardiac health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare resting and exercise HRV in healthy individuals and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.
- To analyze how aerobic exercise alters HRV in these two groups.
- To determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of HRV in cardiac patients.
Main Methods:
- Beat-to-beat heartbeat signals recorded for 15 minutes at rest and during cycling.
- Time-domain statistical parameters (SDRR, pRR50) and spectral analysis (FFT) were calculated.
- Poincare's graphic analysis (PGA) was employed for visualization.
Main Results:
- At rest, healthy individuals exhibited higher SDRR and pRR50 with a "comet-type" PGA compared to AMI patients ("torpedo-type").
- AMI patients showed significantly lower HRV parameters, indicating higher cardiac risk.
- During exercise, healthy individuals showed decreased HRV, while AMI patients maintained certain parameters and showed altered spectral analysis patterns.
Conclusions:
- HRV patterns at rest and during aerobic exercise are distinct between healthy individuals and AMI patients.
- HRV analysis provides valuable insights into autonomic function and cardiac performance.
- These findings support the use of HRV in risk stratification and exercise capacity assessment for cardiac patients.
Objective:
To analyse HRV at rest in healthy people and in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and how it changes during aerobic exercise.
Methods:
The heartbeat signal was recorded beat to beat for 15 minutes at rest and 15 minutes while pedalling in 10 healthy and active men (H group) and 10 cardiac patients (C group). The statistical parameters in the time domain were calculated as well as the spectral analysis applying the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Poincare's graphic analysis (PGA).
Results:
At rest, H group have an average SDRR (standard deviation of RR intervals) of 71.24 msec, a pRR50 (percentage of differences higher than 50 msec in RR intervals) of 9.97% and a PGA called "comet-type". The C group have a SDRR of 36.69 msec, a pRR50 of 1.69%, and a PGA "torpedo-type". These data show a low or moderate risk for healthy people and a high risk for patients. The FFT analysis lies in the very-low-frequency (VLF) zone in both groups. During exercise, H group shows a significant decrease in all parameters; the PGA turns to "torpedo-type" and the FFT remains in the VLF zone. However, C group is characterised by the maintenance of pRR50, no change in PGA and a second peak in FFT in the high-frequency zone.
Conclusion:
The HRV at rest and during aerobic exercise follows a different pattern in healthy people and in patients and it provides further information about performance during exercise.
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