Comparison of maximal heart rate using the prediction equations proposed by Karvonen and Tanaka.
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.
Camarda
Sérgio Ricardo de Abreu
SR
Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. s.camarda@hotmail.com
Tebexreni
Antonio Sérgio
AS
Páfaro
Cristmi Niero
CN
Sasai
Fábio Bueno
FB
Tambeiro
Vera Lúcia
VL
Juliano
Yara
Y
Barros Neto
Turíbio Leite de
TL
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