Changes in heart rate variability from supine to orthostatic positions significantly correlated with quality of life, estimated VO2max, and physical activity scores (r=0.52-0.61 for LF; p≤0.05).
Cross-Sectional (n=15)
Does cardiac autonomic modulation in response to orthostatic stress correlate with quality of life, physical capacity, and physical activity in healthy young adults?
Changes in heart rate variability during orthostatic stress correlate significantly with physical capacity, activity levels, and quality of life in healthy young adults, suggesting its utility as a simple marker for physiological adaptations to exercise.
Effect estimate: r = 0.52-0.61 (LF), r = -0.61 to -0.65 (HF)
p-value: p=≤ 0.05
Increased heart rate variability (HRV) at rest is frequently associated to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), physical activity, and markers of quality of life (QoL). However, the HRV has not been observed during physical exercise or orthostatic (ORT) challenge. This study investigated the associations of HRV changes (ΔHRV) from rest at supine (SUP) to ORT positions with (VO2max), physical activity level, and QoL in young adults. Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed by spectral analysis of R-R time series measured from SUP to ORT positions in 15 healthy volunteers (26 ± 7 years). Questionnaires were applied for evaluation of QoL (SF-36 score), to estimate (VO2max), and to quantify physical activity (Baecke Sport Score). All HRV indices at SUP, but not ORT, strongly correlated to QoL, estimated (VO2max), and physical activity. The ΔHRV from SUP to ORT showed significant correlations with all questionnaire scores (r = 0.52-0.61 for low frequency and r = -0.61 to -0.65 for high frequency, p ≤ 0.05). Higher vagal activity at rest and greater changes in adrenergic and parasympathetic modulation from SUP to ORT were detected in the volunteers exhibiting higher scores of QoL, estimated (VO2max), and physical activity. Taken together, the level of neural adaptations from resting SUP position to active standing, and physical activity and QoL questionnaires seem to be a simple approach to understand the physiological and lifestyle adaptations to exercise that may be applied to a large sample of subjects in almost any sports facilities at a low cost.
Gonçalves et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy individuals (n=15). Orthostatic challenge vs. Rest at supine position was evaluated on Associations of HRV changes (ΔHRV) from rest at supine to orthostatic positions with VO2max, physical activity level, and QoL (r = 0.52-0.61 (LF), r = -0.61 to -0.65 (HF), p=≤ 0.05). Changes in heart rate variability from supine to orthostatic positions significantly correlated with quality of life, estimated VO2max, and physical activity scores (r=0.52-0.61 for LF; p≤0.05).