Cardiac response of elderly adults to normal activities and aerobic walking

To assess the cardiac response of elderly adults, three sedentary men and six women (M = 68 years) with no known cardiovascular disease had their cardiac responses to activities done in a laboratory setting (walking, climbing stairs, carrying bags, shuffleboard); normal daily activities and aerobic walking (pace at 60% of the age-adjusted heart rate) were assessed by a 24-hour holter monitor. Supraventricular and ventricular ectopies were common during the 24 hours of monitoring, but none occurred during any of the activities. Bradycardia occurred at night, along with some supraventricular and ventricular ectopy, none clinically significant. Heart rate increased as the intensity of the activity increased (e.g., 68/ minute for carrying 5 pounds of groceries to 90/ minute during aerobic walking). When prescribing exercise or activity limitations, the chronotropic effects of usual daily activities must be considered in counseling sedentary, apparently healthy older adults.