Heart Rate Variability and Maximum Workload Reached in the Dynamic Physical Exertion Test in Elderly Men

Introduction: One of the benefits provided by regular physical activities seems to be the improvement of cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation. However, the role of physical activity as a determinant factor of the heart rate variability (HRV) is not well-established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether there was a correlation between resting heart rate and maximum workload reached in an exercise test with HRV indices in elderly men. Methods: A study was carried out with 18 elderly men between the ages of 60 and 70 years. The following evaluations were made: a) Maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer using Balke treadmill protocol to evaluate the aerobic capacity; b) Heart Rate (HR) and RR Intervals (RRi) registered for 15 minutes at rest, in the supine position. After collection, data were analyzed by time domain (RMSSD index) and by the frequency domain (low (LF) and high (HF) frequency indices and LF/HF ratio). Pearson correlation test was used to verify whether there was a correlation between the maximum workload reached during the exercise test and the HRV indices (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Demographic, physiological, and anthropometric characteristics and the maximum load achieved during exercise test: Age = 63 ± 3.0 years; BMI = 24 ± 2 kg/m2; HR = 63 ± 9 bpm; SBP = 123 ± 19 mmHg; DBP = 83 ± 8 mmHg; maximum workload = 152 ± 29 watts. No correlation was found between the HRV indices with the values of the resting heart rate and the maximum workload reached in the exercise test (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Temporal and spectral indices of heart rate variability are not indicators of aerobic capacity of elderly men evaluated on a cycle ergometer.