Effects of Exercise Training on Heart Rate Variability After Coronary Angioplasty

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is associated with risk of restenosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is an important, widely used method for assessing cardiac autonomic regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise training on HRV in subjects after PTCA. Subjects and Methods. A total of 84 subjects who had undergone PTCA were recruited for this study. The subjects (age [mean±SD]=57.0±9.3 years) were randomly assigned to either an exercise group to undergo an 8-week outpatient exercise program or a control group to undergo usual care. Heart rate variability was measured for 5 minutes in the supine resting position at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks. Results. The parasympathetically modulated HRV of the subjects in the exercise group increased significantly compared with the HRV of subjects in the control group. The effects of training on HRV were independent of angioplasty type (balloon or stent) and were unrelated to whether the subjects had received previous PTCA. Discussion and Conclusion. Exercise training can increase parasympathetic modulation of cardiac function in people after they have undergone successful PTCA. Our results suggest that analysis of HRV can be extended to assess the effect of exercise training on cardiac autonomic dysfunction in people after coronary angioplasty.

Exercise is the Real Polypill

“…Moderate aerobic exercise (brisk walking) for 3 mo attenuates age-related reductions in baroreflex function, and there appears to be an exercise "dose-response" with regard to the exercise benefits, with endurance-trained older individuals showing similar baroreflex function than their moderately active younger peers (316). A recent meta-analysis has shown that HRV increases with exercise training (344), with this effect being reported in middle-aged or old people who are either healthy (106,134,374) or have myocardial infarction (51,65,108,245,262,288,289,295,359,421), chronic heart failure (227, 288,375,440), transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting (197,281,464,477), or diabetes (123,277,535). Although angiotensin II and nitric oxide (NO • ) may play a mediating role and more research is needed, to date, it seems that exercise may influence HRV in humans via increasing vagal modulation and decreasing sympathetic tone (412).…”

The Effects of 8 Weeks Pilates, Walking, and Combined Pilates and Walking on Heart Arrhythmia

“…It seems physical activities will reduce the stability against bloodstream and reduce heart rate during resting through increasing the number of capillaries inactive skeleton muscles (24). Heart rate is managed by the sympathetic and parasympathetic system in a way that any failure in the automatic nervous system can increase the activity of sympathetic and decreasing the activity of parasympathetic systems (25). Through improving the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, exercise improves the systolic function of the left ventricle, which increases cardiac output during exercise and reduces resting heart rate (26).…”

A review of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise in cardiovascular disease

“…The rate of mobility in people with chronic heart disease such as stroke and heart failure is 40% -30% lower than healthy individuals (Tsai et al, 2006). Even exercise for as little as 1-3 months has a positive effect on their quality of life (Tsai et al, 2006). The type of exercise also influences the rate of recovery of heart patients (Niobi et al, 2000).…”

“…Both heavy and light exercise is useful in patients with left ventricular failure who regularly participate in rehabilitation and enhances functional capability (Liu et al, 2016). For those who are sedentary, exercise is ideal for a quick and regular walk which increases lipid profile in addition to increasing fitness, which improves lipid profile in addition to increasing fitness (Tsai et al, 2006). Studies show that every 1 mL / kg / min maximal increase in oxygen consumption is associated with a 15% reduction and every 1 MET is associated with a 43% reduction in cardiac deaths (Nampson et al, 2000).…”