title: The exercise heart rate profile in master athletes compared to healthy controls.
abstract: Endurance exercise protects the heart via effects on autonomic control of heart rate (HR); however, its effects on HR indices in healthy middle-aged men are unclear. This study compared HR profiles, including resting HR, increase in HR during exercise and HR recovery after exercise, in middle-aged athletes and controls. Fifty endurance-trained athletes and 50 controls (all male; mean age, 48·7 ± 5·8 years) performed an incremental symptom-limited exercise treadmill test. The electrocardiographic findings and HR profiles were evaluated. Maximal O2 uptake (52·6 ± 7·0 versus 34·8 ± 4·5 ml kg(-1)  min(-1) ; P<0·001) and the metabolic equivalent of task (15·4 ± 1·6 versus 12·2 ± 1·5; P<0·001) were significantly higher in athletes than in controls. Resting HR was significantly lower in athletes than in controls (62·8 ± 6·7 versus 74·0 ± 10·4 beats per minute (bpm), respectively; P<0·001). Athletes showed a greater increase in HR during exercise than controls (110·1 ± 11·0 versus 88·1 ± 15·4 bpm; P<0·001); however, there was no significant between-group difference in HR recovery at 1 min after cessation of exercise (22·9 ± 5·6 versus 21·3 ± 6·7 bpm; P = 0·20). Additionally, athletes showed a lower incidence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during exercise (0·0% versus 24·0%; P<0·001). Healthy middle-aged men participating in regular endurance exercise showed more favourable exercise HR profiles and a lower incidence of PVCs during exercise than sedentary men. These results reflect the beneficial effect of endurance training on autonomic control of the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Osung
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, Korea Institute of Sport Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Saejong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-Byoung
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee-Joon
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: You-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D020127:Recovery of Function; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: athlete; autonomic nervous system; exercise; exercise test; heart rate