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Heart rate response at the onset of exercise in an apparently healthy cohort

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The exercise test is a powerful non-invasive tool for risk stratifying patients with or suspected of having cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart rate (HR) response during and following exercise has been extensively studied. However, the clinical utility of HR response at the onset of exercise is less understood. Furthermore, conflicting reports exist regarding whether a faster vs. slower HR acceleration represents a CVD risk marker. The primary study purpose was to describe HR acceleration early in exercise in apparently healthy individuals.

Methods

Retrospective analyses were performed in a sample (N = 947) representing a range of age and fitness (11–78 years; VO2peak 17–49 mL kg−1 min−1). HR response was defined over the initial 7 min of the protocol. Associations between HR acceleration and CVD risk factors were also assessed.

Results

Mean increases in HR were 18 ± 9 and 23 ± 11 beats at minute one, for men and women, respectively (p < 0.05). After adjusting for gender and pre-exercise HR, only modest associations were observed between the change in HR at minute one and body mass index, resting blood pressure, cigarette smoking, physical activity, HR reserve, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Conclusion

There was wide variability in HR acceleration at the onset of exercise in this apparently healthy cohort. A lower increase in HR during the first minute of exercise was associated with a better CVD risk profile, including higher cardiorespiratory fitness, in apparently healthy individuals. These data suggest a greater parasympathetic influence at the onset of exercise may be protective in an asymptomatic population.

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Abbreviations

ANS:

Autonomic nervous system

BMI:

Body mass index

BP:

Blood pressure

BSU:

Ball State University

Bpm:

Beats per minute

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

CI:

Chronotropic incompetence

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

GXT:

Graded exercise test

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HR:

Heart rate

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

MET:

Metabolic equivalents

mg dl:

Milligram per deciliter

min:

Minute

mmHg:

Millimeters of mercury

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

RPE:

Ratings of perceived exertion

VO2 :

Volume of oxygen

SPECT:

Single photon emission computed tomography

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Acknowledgments

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, Clinical Exercise Physiology Program, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA

    Allison Jagoda, Leonard A. Kaminsky & Mitchell H. Whaley

  2. Division of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Jonathan N. Myers

  3. College of Applied Sciences and Technology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    Mitchell H. Whaley

Authors
  1. Allison Jagoda
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  2. Jonathan N. Myers
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  3. Leonard A. Kaminsky
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  4. Mitchell H. Whaley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitchell H. Whaley.

Additional information

Communicated by Klaas R. Westerterp and Håkan Westerblad.

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Jagoda, A., Myers, J.N., Kaminsky, L.A. et al. Heart rate response at the onset of exercise in an apparently healthy cohort. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 1367–1375 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2867-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2867-0

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