Association of postexercise heart rate recovery with body composition in healthy male adults: Findings from Pakistan

Joint association of sedentary time and physical activity with abnormal heart rate recovery in young and middle-aged adults

BACKGROUND

Abnormal heart rate recovery (HRR), representing cardiac autonomic dysfunction, is an important predictor of cardiovascular disease. Prolonged sedentary time (ST) is associated with a slower HRR. However, it is not clear how much moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is required to mitigate the adverse effects of sedentary behavior on HRR in young and middle-aged adults. This study aimed to examine the joint association of ST and MVPA with abnormal HRR in this population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1253 participants (aged 20-50 years, 67.8% male) from an observational study assessing cardiopulmonary fitness in Fujian Province, China. HRR measured via cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a treadmill was calculated as the difference between heart rate at peak exercise and 2 min after exercise. When the HRR was ≤ 42 beats·minute-1 within this time, it was considered abnormal. ST and MVPA were assessed by the IPAQ-LF. Individuals were classified as having a low sedentary time (LST [< 6 h·day-1]) or high sedentary time (HST [≥ 6 h·day-1]) and according to their MVPA level (low MVPA [0-149 min·week-1], medium MVPA [150-299 min·week-1], high MVPA [≥ 300 min·week-1]). Finally, six ST-MVPA groups were derived. Associations between ST-MVPA groups with abnormal HRR incidence were examined using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

53.1% of the young and middle-aged adults had less than 300 min of MVPA per week. In model 2, adjusted for possible confounders (e.g. age, sex, current smoking status, current alcohol consumption, sleep status, body mass index), HST was associated with higher odds of an abnormal HRR compared to LST (odds ratio (OR) = 1.473, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.172-1.852). Compared with the reference group (HST and low MVPA), the HST and high MVPA groups have a lower chance of abnormal HRR (OR, 95% CI = 0.553, 0.385-0.795). Compared with individuals with HST and low MVPA, regardless of whether MVPA is low, medium, or high, the odds of abnormal HRR in individuals with LST is significantly reduced (OR, 95% CI = 0.515, 0.308-0.857 for LST and low MVPA; OR, 95% CI = 0.558, 0.345-0.902 for LST and medium MVPA; OR, 95% CI = 0.476, 0.326-0.668 for LST and high MVPA).

CONCLUSION

Higher amounts of MVPA appears to mitigate the increased odds of an abnormal HRR associated with HST for healthy young and middle-aged adults.

Correlation between impaired hemodynamic response and cardiopulmonary fitness in middle-aged type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a case-control study

PURPOSE

Impaired cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a predictor of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is still not known how the exercise hemodynamic response correlates with CRF. The purpose was to assess the correlation between hemodynamic changes and CRF in middle-aged patients with T2DM.

METHODS

After 1:1 matching by age and sex, 139 T2DM patients and 139 non-T2DM controls who completed the exercise treadmill test were included. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO_2max), exercise-induced changes in heart rate (ΔHR), systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP), diastolic blood pressure (ΔDBP), and rate-pressure product (ΔRPP) were measured. HRR₁ was calculated as the maximum heart rate minus the heart rate after 1 min of rest.

RESULTS

Compared to the control population, T2DM patients had decreased ΔHR (87 (77, 97) v 93 (84, 104) bpm, p < 0.05), ΔRPP (3833.64 ± 1670.34 v 4381.16 ± 1587.78 bpm∙mmHg, p < 0.05), HRR₁ (21 (14, 27) v 21 (17, 27) bpm, p < 0.05), and VO_2max (32.76 ± 5.63 v 34.68 ± 5.70 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that ΔHR and HRR₁, yielded a positive correlation with VO_2max in T2DM patients (β = 0.325, P < 0.001; β = 0.173, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The presence of impaired hemodynamic response and VO_2max in middle-aged T2DM patients and the association of impaired ΔHR, HRR₁, and VO_2max may indicate a physiological pathway of impaired CRF, and our results support the need for cardiorespiratory screening and individualized treatment of middle-aged T2DM patients.

Heart rate recovery in normal and obese males with and without parental history of cardiovascular disease

Background:

Parental history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity is associated with delayed parasympathetic nervous system reactivation after exercise. Heart rate recovery (HRRe) after a minute of exercise is inversely related to cardiovascular events.

Aim:

To determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and parental CVD history on HRRe in apparently healthy young Indian males.

Method:

The present cross-sectional experimental study involved 100 males, aged18–25 years. Subjects were divided into two equal groups based on the parental CVD history—(i) Parental CVD history present, and (ii) Parental CVD history absent. Each of these groups were further divided into two equal sub groups based on BMI—(a) BMI <23kg/m², and (b) BMI ≥25 kg/m². Participants exercised on the treadmill at variable speeds and grades to achieve their target HR (THR). THR was calculated by adding 60–90% HR-reserve (HRR) in their basal HR (BHR). HRR was calculated by subtracting maximal HR (MHR) from BHR. MHR was estimated by the formula: 208–0.7 × age. The HRRe was calculated by subtracting the immediate postexercise HR with the HR after a minute of rest postexercise. ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey was applied and a P value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

HRRe value was significantly lesser in subjects having a positive parental history of CVD than the subjects with no parental history of CVD, irrespective of BMI. Also, HRRe was inversely related to BMI.

Conclusion:

Not only obesity but also a family history of CVD impacts the recovery of HR after vigorous-intensity exercise.

Association of postexercise heart rate recovery with body composition in healthy male adults: Findings from Pakistan

Background

This study investigated the effect of body mass index (BMI) and body fat ratio with postexercise heart rate recovery (HRR) after 2 minutes of rest.

Methods

Sixty‐four healthy males aged between 25 and 55 years participated in the study. BMI, body fat ratio, waist circumference, and physical activity were recorded. Peak heart rate after exercise and HRR after 2 min of rest were obtained.

Results

Mean age of participants was 35.53 ± 6.57. Mean BMI and HRR were 25.06 ± 4.62 and 26.07 ± 7.43, respectively. BMI and body fat ratio had significant negative correlation with HRR with r values of −.833 and −.877, respectively (p < .001*). Linear regression showed BMI and body fat ratio with significant coefficient of −0.426 (p = .04*) and −0.627 (p < .001*) with HRR, respectively. Participants with BMI ˂ 25 had higher HRR in comparison to participants with BMI ≥ 25 (p < .001*). Participants with body fat ratio of ˂25 had significantly higher HRR of 35.9 ± 3.98 in comparison to participants with body fat ratio ≥ 25 (p = <.001*).

Conclusion

Body mass index and body fat ratio are strong predictors of HRR in Pakistani healthy male adults, suggesting a strong link between metabolic risk factors and impaired autonomic nervous system.