title: Comparison of maximal heart rate using the prediction equations proposed by Karvonen and Tanaka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Equations for predicting maximal heart rate (HRmax) are widely used in exercise testing and for training prescription, but their efficacy remains controversial in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare maximal heart rate during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using the prediction equations developed by Karvonen and Tanaka.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 24,120 maximal treadmill graded exercise tests stored in the CEMAFE database from 1994 to 2006, 2047 HRmax values were analyzed, 1091 of which were from male and 956 from female sedentary subjects. These data were used as a gold standard to compare Karvonen's and Tanaka's prediction formulas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean measured maximal heart rates were 181.0 +/- 14.0; 180.6 +/- 13.0, and 180.8 +/- 13.8 for men, women, and both genders combined, respectively. Likewise, mean values from Karvonen's equation were 182.0 +/- 11.4; 183.7 +/- 11.5, and 183.9 +/- 11.7; and from Tanaka's, 182.0 +/- 8.0; 182.6 +/- 8.0, and 182.7 +/- 8.2. Karvonen's and Tanaka's equations yielded the same correlation coefficients, as compared with measured maximal heart rate (r = 0.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Karvonen's and Tanaka's equations are similar in predicting maximal heart rate and show good correlation with measured maximal heart rate.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. s.camarda@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sérgio Ricardo de Abreu
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Camarda
authors.forename: Antonio Sérgio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tebexreni
authors.forename: Cristmi Niero
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Páfaro
authors.forename: Fábio Bueno
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Sasai
authors.forename: Vera Lúcia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Tambeiro
authors.forename: Yara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Juliano
authors.forename: Turíbio Leite de
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barros Neto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests