Association between Resting Heart Rate and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Brazilian Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between health-related physical fitness components (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and body fat) and resting heart rate (RHR) in Brazilian adolescents. The study included 695 schoolchildren (14–19 years) from public schools of the city of São José, Brazil. RHR was evaluated using an automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test; muscle strength was measured by handgrip dynamometer; flexibility was assessed by the sit-and-reach test; and body fat was assessed indirectly by sum of two skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subscapular). Sociodemographic variables, habitual physical activity, sexual maturation, and body mass index were the covariates. Cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.11; 95%CI: -0.14, -0.08) and handgrip strength (β = -0.10; 95%CI: -0.18, -0.01) were inversely associated with RHR in boys. For girls, cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.09; 95%CI: -0.12, -0.06) was inversely associated with RHR. In both sexes, body fat (β = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.25, 0.75 for boys; β = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.36, 2.72 for girls) was directly associated with RHR. The RHR is measured more easily than the physical fitness tests, so it is recommended to assess adolescent's heath in large surveillance systems.

Determinants of Exercise Capacity Assessed With the Modified Shuttle Test in Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis

“…22 In addition, a study with healthy adolescents showed that aerobic fitness is associated with resting heart rate, indicating that lower aerobic fitness is associated with higher heart rate values at rest. 23 Sarganas et al 24 reported an association of resting heart rate with aerobic capacity in adolescents aged 11-17 y. Our data indicate a moderate correlation between resting heart rate and distance achieved on the MST.…”

Prevalence of Elevated Resting Heart Rate Among Young Adults

“…In our study no significant association was witnessed between BMI and RHR in the young population of ZCRS, except for two categories namely overweight with a P value of 0.047 and r value of 0.257 and grade 3 obese having a r value of 1, leaving all other categories insignificantly associated which is certainly is questionable. Although, Yar in 2010 studied Saudi population and found RHR values to be elevated among obese individuals, and Silva, et al in 2018 found skin fold thickness to be directly associated with RHR 19,23 . With regard to the literature further investigation is required in this context.…”

Elevated Resting Heart Rate is Associated with Increased Circulatory CD14 + TLR4 + monocytes and VEGF Expression in Healthy Obese Individuals: Implications for Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Heart rate levels have been associated with general wellbeing and mortality 29 ; while, the elevated heart rate is considered a potential risk marker of cardiovascular disease 30 . RHR was reported to be a long-term risk factor of all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients 31 as well as in healthy populations 32 ; and it has been extensively studied in the context of diabetes 33,34 , hypertension and heart failure 35,36 , and different physical exercise training and fitness programs and their duration 37,38 . Obesity is a critical risk factor of diabetes, independent of other risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and related conventional risk factors.…”