Age-related decline in cardiac autonomic function is not attenuated with increased physical activity

Abstract

Age and physical inactivity are important risk factors for cardiovascular mortality. Heart rate response to exercise (HRRE) and heart rate recovery (HRR), measures of cardiac autonomic function, are strong predictors of mortality. The present study defined the effect of age and physical activity on HRRE and HRR. Healthy women (N=72) grouped according to age (young, 20-30 years; middle, 40-50 years; and older, 65-81 years) and daily physical activity (low active <7500, high active >12,500 steps/day) performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. The HRRE was defined as an increase in heart rate from rest to 1, 3 and 5 minutes of exercise and at 1/3 of total exercise time, and HRR as the difference in heart rate between peak exercise and 1, 2, and 3 minutes later. Age was associated with a significant decline in HRRE at 1 min and 1/3 of exercise time (r= − 0.27, p=0.04, and r=−0.39, p=0.02) and HRR at 2 min and 3 min (r=−0.35, p=0.01, and r=−0.31, p=0.02). There was no significant difference in HRRE and HRR between high and low-active middle-age and older women (p>0.05). Increased level of habitual physical activity level appears to have a limited effect on age-related decline in cardiac autonomic function in women.

High-Intensity Interval Circuit Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Middle-Aged and Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…This result could be associated with both improved endothelial function and decreased pro-inflammatory response during exercise. One study suggests that, unlike in young people, physical exercise is not able to maintain correct autonomic nervous system activation in middle-aged and older women [42]. In this regard, our results went further because there is a relationship between HR recovery and mortality risk [43,44].…”

Heart Rate Performance Curve Is Dependent on Age, Sex, and Performance

“…Regarding the influence of exercise, even high levels of daily physical activity had no effects on heart rate response with respect to age (15). On the other hand, Rogers et al (19) showed no decrease in maximum heart rate in welltrained master endurance athletes in a period of 8 years of continues training compared to sedentary controls.…”

“…Several reasons for this decrease in HR max with age have been discussed, although no definite conclusion has been drawn yet. Beside the age associated decline in cardiac autonomic function (15) and a reduction of intrinsic heart rate (HR int ) with age (16), one main reason may be a reduced β-adrenoreceptor sensitivity or density with cardiac aging. Studies examining the cardiovascular effects to graded isoproterenol and propranolol infusions showed a reduced β-adrenergic responsivity with advancing age (16)(17)(18).…”

Personal and system requirements of a successful researching career in the field of multidisciplinary biomedical sciences: Personal review / overview

“…maximum oxygen consumption. However, another study indicated that an increased level of physical activity actually has limited effect on the reduced cardiac autonomic function in the elderly (Njemanze et al, 2016). In addition to the described clinical studies, we also lead the research program of basic sciences applying the experimental methods which involve mice.…”

“…максимал-ном потрошњом кисеоника. У другој студији смо пак показали да повишен ниво физичке актив-ности има заправо веома мали ефекат на умање-ну аутономну функцију срца код старијих особа (Njemanze et al, 2016).…”