Heart rate behavior during an exercise stress test in obese patients
L A Gondoni1, A M Titon, F Nibbio
1Unit of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Ospedale San Giuseppe, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Cadorna, 90, 28824 Piancavallo di Oggebbio, Verbania, Italy. gondoni@auxologico.it
Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD
|September 23, 2008
Summary
Obese individuals exhibit impaired heart rate (HR) response during exercise and recovery. This blunted HR increase significantly limits exercise capacity in obese patients, regardless of fitness level.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Obesity Medicine
Background:
- Heart rate (HR) response during exercise is not well-characterized in obese populations.
- Obesity may impact cardiovascular function and exercise performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare HR behavior during exercise stress tests between obese and non-obese individuals.
- To investigate if differences in HR response influence exercise capacity in obese patients.
Main Methods:
- 554 patients underwent treadmill exercise testing; exclusions included heart disease and certain medications.
- Subjects were categorized into non-obese (BMI<30), unfit obese, and trained obese groups.
- Analysis focused on resting HR, peak HR, HR recovery, and chronotropic index.
Main Results:
- Obese subjects, irrespective of fitness, showed lower peak HR, HR recovery, and chronotropic index compared to non-obese.
- HR behavior during exercise was influenced by age, BMI, height, hypertension, and medications.
- Exercise capacity was strongly associated with HR behavior, sex, age, BMI, and diabetes.
Conclusions:
- Obese individuals demonstrate significantly impaired HR behavior during exercise and recovery.
- A blunted HR increase during exercise is the primary factor limiting exercise capacity in the obese population.
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Definition
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Purposes
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Definition
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Purposes
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