title: Heart rate variability and cardiovascular fitness in senior athletes.
abstract: To determine if the age-associated decline in heart rate variability is due in part to decreases in fitness levels, we compared heart rate variability parameters in older athletes and age-matched sedentary persons. All heart rate variability parameters were superior in the athletes, consistent with an enhanced cardiac vagal modulation in the athlete.
authors.affiliation: Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, The Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 21201, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Yataco
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fleisher
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Katzel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*