Impact of Physical Activity on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure and Rate-Pressure Product in Healthy Elderly

Objective: Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and rate-pressure product (RPP) are important prognostic factors of cardiovascular health. They all related to myocardial Ο2 uptake and hence myocardial work intensity, being important non-invasive and inverse indicators of myocardial economy. The study aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) on myocardial economy on healthy, elderly Greek individuals. Methods: 106 participants were enrolled in the study, 37 men and 69 women. The resting HR, systolic BP (SBP) and RPP were determined and recorded according to the latest guidelines. The IPAQ-GR questionnaire was applied to evaluate the participants’ level of PA. Results: The HR and SBP were significantly associated with PA class. PA class was inversely associated with HR in men (p=0.023) and SBP in women (p=0.009). The RPP was lower in participants with moderate PA class, compared to those with low PA, yet the correlation was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Increased PA, from low to moderate level, significantly lowered HR in men and SBP in women. The RPP was found lower in healthy elderly subjects with higher levels of PA, but this association was not significant. Future research must be carried out to clarify how PA of longer duration and/or higher intensity may affect myocardial function and cardiovascular responses in healthy elderly individuals.