The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) by different HRV indexes and determination criteria. 68 untrained participants, 17 women (24.09±4.91 years old; 21.54±1.97 kg∙m−2) and 51 men (24.52±3.52 years old; 26.51±6.31 kg∙m−2), were evaluated on 2 different days (test and retest). The HRVT was determined during an incremental exercise test using 2 indexes (SD1 and RMSSD) and criteria (HRTV1, first intensity of physical effort with index<3 ms, and HRVT2, first intensity of physical effort, in which the index presents a difference<1 ms between 2 consecutive intensities). There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the test and retest for any of the variables evaluated. All variables, except for the rate of perceived exertion at HRVT2, presented moderate to high intraclass correlation coefficient (HRVT1: 0.55–0.85 and HRVT2:0.58–0.69). All variables at HRVT1 and the heart rate at HRVT2 showed coefficient of variation ~ 10%. The HRVT, regardless of criteria and HRV index used, showed satisfactory reproducibility. Thus, these criteria can be used to assess clinically autonomic cardiac modulation and aerobic capacity, and to analyze the effect of different interventions.

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This study aimed to assess whether obesity and/or maximal exercise can change 24 h cardiac autonomic modulation and blood pressure in young men. Thirty-nine men (n: 20; 21.9±1.8 kg·m−2, and n: 19; 32.9±2.4 kg·m−2) were randomly assigned to perform a control (non-exercise) and an experimental day exercise (after maximal incremental test). Cardiac autonomic modulation was evaluated through frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV). Obesity did not impair the ambulatory HRV (p>0.05), however higher diastolic blood pressure during asleep time (p=0.02; group main effect) was observed. The 24 h and awake heart rate was higher on the experimental day (p<0.05; day main effect), regardless of obesity. Hypotension on the experimental day, compared to control day, was observed (p<0.05). Obesity indicators were significantly correlated with heart rate during asleep time (Rho=0.34 to 0.36) and with ambulatory blood pressure(r/Rho=0.32 to 0.53). Furthermore, the HRV threshold workload was significantly correlated with ambulatory heart rate (r/Rho=− 0.38 to−0.52). Finally, ambulatory HRV in obese young men was preserved; however, diastolic blood pressure was increased during asleep time. Maximal exercise caused heart rate increase and 24h hypotension, with decreased cardiac autonomic modulation in the first hour, regardless of obesity.

AbstractTo analyze whether heart rate variability is reproducible after maximal exercise, 11 men (22.1±3.2 years) performed four incremental exercise tests followed by passive or active recovery. There was high reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation: 0.72–0.96) and fair-to-excellent agreement (coefficient of variation: 7.81–22.09%) in passive recovery, as well as moderate-to-high reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation: 0.50–0.87) and good agreement (coefficient of variation: 11.08–20.89%) in active recovery for LnRMSSD index. There was moderate-to-high reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation: 0.51–0.81) and good agreement (coefficient of variation: 10.41–18.87%) in most of the analyzed time points, in both recovery types for LnSDNN. In both types of recovery, the time domain heart rate variability 5–10 min indices (passive: intraclass coefficient correlation : 0.87–0.88; coefficient of variation: 7.67–13.44%; active: intraclass coefficient correlation 0.59–0.80; coefficient of variation: 14.62–16.26%) presented higher intraclass coefficient correlation and lower coefficient of variation than the spectral heart rate variability indices (passive: intraclass coefficient correlation: 0.71–0.87; coefficient of variation: 12.33–34.21%; active: intraclass coefficient correlation: 0.46–0.77; coefficient of variation: 24.41–105.12%). The LnRMSSD and LnSDNN indices analyzed in 30 s segments and the heart rate variability 5–10 min indices after maximal exercise in untrained healthy men showed satisfactory reproducibility, regardless of the type of recovery, with the time-domain indices showing higher reproducibility than the frequency-domain indices.

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Purpose This study assesses whether the specific duties of a police officer or aerobic fitness influences blood pressure (BP) and cardiac autonomic modulation. Method Police officers (n = 161) were divided into administrative and operational (34.72 ± 5.98 vs. 33.95 ± 5.61 years old) groups, and subsequently divided into lower and higher aerobic fitness (35.49 ± 4.32 vs. 45.39 ± 13.10 mL·kg−1·min−1). Results Higher SBP (125 ± 10 vs. 121 ± 10 mmHg; P = 0.02) and aerobic fitness (42.10 ± 5.57 vs. 38.51 ± 6.67 mL·kg−1·min−1; P < 0.01) were observed in the operational group. On the other hand, lower obesity indicators and higher heart rate variability (HRV) indices (SD1: 26.67 ± 14.19 vs. 20.98 ± 9.12; SD2: 54.04 ± 19.81 vs. 47.32 ± 18.85; RMSSD: 36.50 ± 18.78 vs. 29.90 ± 12.51; SDNN: 42.80 ± 16.05 vs. 36.85 ± 14.23 ms; pNN50: 17.32 ± 17.54 vs. 10.60 ± 10.77 %) were observed in the higher aerobic fitness group (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion In summary, although the operational occupation had shown a negative influence on SBP, the HRV was not impaired in police officers. Additionally, aerobic fitness was related to differences in obesity indicators and HRV regardless of police duties. Our findings encourage the inclusion of BP and HRV measurements in routine health checks to screen for early hypertension and autonomic dysfunction.

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