Author: Hidehiko Ikura1,2, Yoshinori Katsumata1,2, Yuta Seki1,2, Toshinobu Ryuzaki1,2, Yasuyuki Shiraishi1,2, Kotaro Miura1,2, Kazuki Sato2, Keiichi Fukuda1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
<sup>2</sup> Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Conference/Journal: Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc
Date published: 2022 Nov 11
Other:
Volume ID: 43 , Pages: 101147 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2022.101147. , Word Count: 306
Background:
Exercise therapy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is mainly evaluated based on the heart rate (HR) or Borg scale. However, these indices can be unreliable depending on the patient's medication or their subjective decisions; thus, alternative methods are required for easier and safer implementation of aerobic exercise. Here, we examined whether real-time analysis of HR variability (HRV) can help maintain exercise intensity at the ventilatory threshold (VT) during exercise.
Methods:
Twenty-eight patients with CVD treated at Keio University Hospital between August 2018 and March 2020 were enrolled. Initially, oxygen uptake (VO2) and HR at the VT were determined using the cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients then performed aerobic exercise on a stationary bicycle for 30 min while a parameter of HRV, the high-frequency (HF) component, was monitored in real time using an electrocardiograph. The work rate during exercise was adjusted every 2 min to maintain the HF range between 5 and 10. The VO2 and HR values, recorded every 2 min during exercise, were compared with those at VT. The Bland-Altman method was used to confirm similarity.
Results:
VO2 and HR during exercise were closely correlated with those at VT (e.g., 19 min after exercise initiation; VO2: r = 0.647, HR: r = 0.534). The Bland-Altman plot revealed no bias between the mean values (e.g., 19 min; VO2: -0.22 mL/kg/min; HR: -0.07/min).
Conclusion:
Real-time HRV analysis with electrocardiograph alone during exercise can provide continuous and non-invasive exercise intensity measurements at VT, promoting safer and effective exercise strategies.
Keywords: Aerobic exercise; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; CPX, cardiopulmonary exercise test; CR, cardiac rehabilitation; CVD, cardiovascular disease; Cardiac rehabilitation; HF, high-frequency; HR, heart rate; HRV, heart rate variability; Heart rate variability; IQR, interquartile range; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; VCO2, carbon dioxide production; VE, expiratory ventilation; VO2, oxygen uptake; VT, ventilatory threshold; Ventilatory threshold; WR, work rate; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.
PMID: 36389267 PMCID: PMC9663313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2022.101147