P-R interval in relation to heart rate during exercise and the influence of posture and autonomic tone

P-R interval (PR) in relation to heart rate (HR) during exercise was studied in healthy men. When subjects were in a recumbent position, mean PR between HR 90-140 beats/min (bpm) decreased linearly from 167 +/- 8 ms to 136 +/- 5 ms. (Regression line: PR = 0.287 HR + 182.9, r = 0.40). PR did not decrease further at HR up to 180 bpm. When subjects were in a sitting position, a further decrease occurred after HR 150-160 bpm. The shortest PR observed during exercise was 100 ms. The decrease of PR between HR 90-140 bpm was affected by atropine but not by propranolol. Higher HR was not achieved after propranolol, and after atropine there was no difference in PR in either exercise position compared to the two exercises without any drug. Thus, exercise induces a decrease in PR which is for the most part completed at HR 140-150 bpm and is mainly achieved by a withdrawal of the parasympathetic tone. PR at HR 90 bpm was correlated to body surface area, indicating that the PR duration is related to the body and heart dimensions.