Exercise Frequency Determines Heart Rate Variability Gains in Older People: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Raffin, Jérémy; Barthélémy, Jean‐Claude; Dupré, Caroline; Pichot, Vincent; Berger, Mathieu; Féasson, Léonard; Busso, Thierry; Costa, Antoine Da; Colvez, Alain; Montuy-Coquard, Claude; Bouvier, Rémi; Bongué, Bienvenu; Roche, Frédéric; Hupin, David

doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01097-7

Cited by 48 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 64 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Since baseline values in nine different tests of cognitive performance were equal among all three intervention groups, as reported previously (Eggenberger et al, 2015a ), we exclude the possibility that unequally distributed factors related to cognitive and brain health (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) may have affected this outcome. The small to medium effect size of our exergame intervention on HRV is in the same range of effects commonly found in aerobic endurance training interventions in healthy older adults, as reported in a meta-analysis (Raffin et al, 2019 ). Therefore, the effects in our study appear to be domain-specific and of clinical and practical importance (Durlak, 2009 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…However, they did not increase HRV indices, which conflicts with previous research. Recent meta-analytic results show that studies including exclusively aerobic-type training mostly demonstrated improvements in HRV in older adults and particularly in the global HRV index SDNN (Raffin et al, 2019 ). In some trials, aerobic training also specifically increased the parasympathetic mediated HRV indices (i.e., RMSSD and HF power) with a concomitant enhancement of cognitive executive functions (Albinet et al, 2010 , 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, in a study including 118 sedentary, overweight, hypertensive women (mean age 64.8 ± 4.2 years), 6 months of low-to-moderate intensity aerobic training raised parasympathetic HRV indices, despite VO 2 max remaining unchanged (Earnest et al, 2012 ). Raffin et al ( 2019 ) proposed in their meta-analysis that long-term aerobic exercise interventions with a high training frequency, i.e., four or more sessions per week over several months, are the key to positively affecting HRV in older adults, rather than the duration and intensity of the single sessions. It appears that exclusively aerobic exercise-based interventions require a much higher training frequency to induce positive adaptations of HRV, compared to our twice-weekly exergame intervention (DANCE).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent meta-analysis containing 12 studies and 329 participants beyond age 60 years demonstrated positive effects of aerobic exercise training on the global HRV index SDNN. Thereby, improvements in HRV were linearly increasing with higher exercise frequency (Raffin et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Heart Rate Variability Mainly Relates to Cognitive Executive Functions and Improves Through Exergame Training in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Eggenberger

Annaheim

Kündig

et al. 2020

Front. Aging Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Heart rate variability (HRV) mirrors autonomic nervous system activities and might serve as a parameter to monitor health status in older adults. However, it is currently unknown which functional health measures, including cognitive, physical, and gait performance parameters, are most strongly related to HRV indices. This knowledge would enable implementing HRV assessments into health monitoring routines and training planning for older adults. Simultaneous cognitive–motor and exergame training may be effective to improve HRV indices but has not been investigated yet. Eighty-nine healthy older adults (≥70 years of age) were randomized into three groups: (1) virtual reality video game dancing, i.e., exergaming (DANCE); (2) treadmill walking with simultaneous verbal memory training (MEMORY); or (3) treadmill walking only (PHYS). Strength and balance exercises complemented each program. Over 6 months, two weekly 1-h training sessions were performed. HRV indices (standard deviation of N–N intervals, SDNN; root mean square of successive R–R interval differences, RMSSD; and absolute power of high-frequency band (0.15–0.4 Hz), HF power) and various measures of cognitive, physical, and gait performance were assessed at baseline and after 3 months and 6 months. Multiple linear regression analyses with planned comparisons were calculated. At baseline, 8–12% of HRV variance was significantly explained by cognitive executive functions and leg strength (inversely related). Verbal long-term memory, aerobic and functional fitness, and gait performance did not contribute to the model (SDNN: R 2 = 0.082, p = 0.016; RMSSD: R 2 = 0.121, p = 0.013; HF power: R 2 = 0.119, p = 0.015). After 6 months, DANCE improved HRV indices, while MEMORY and PHYS did not (time × intervention interactions: first-contrast DANCE/MEMORY vs. PHYS: SDNN p = 0.014 one-tailed, Δ R 2 = 0.020 and RMSSD p = 0.052 one-tailed (trend), Δ R 2 = 0.007; second-contrast DANCE vs. MEMORY: SDNN p = 0.002 one-tailed, Δ R 2 = 0.035, RMSSD p = 0.017 one-tailed, Δ R 2 = 0.012, and HF power p = 0.011 one-tailed, Δ R 2 = 0.013). We conclude that mainly cognitive executive functions are associated with HRV indices and that exergame training improves global and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system activities in older adults. Periodic assessments of HRV in older citizens could be particularly beneficial to monitor cognitive health and provide indications for preventative exercise measures.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Heart Rate Variability Mainly Relates to Cognitive Executive Functions and Improves Through Exergame Training in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Eggenberger

Annaheim

Kündig

et al. 2020

Front. Aging Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…acoustic stimulation, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques) could potentially be utilized to consolidate N3 and enhance cardiovascular benefits or cognition in older populations. Furthermore, a number of studies have shown that physical training increases HRV in older subjects (Raffin et al, 2019). It can then be suggested that regular exercise might benefit the autonomic imbalance in the elderly and would restore the association between HRV and NREM sleep.…”

Section: Reduced Mini-cardiovascular Break In Older Adults' Napsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-related losses in cardiac autonomic activity during a daytime nap

Chen

Sattari

Whitehurst

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

AbstractIn healthy, young individuals, a reduction in cardiovascular output and a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic (vagal) dominance is observed from wake into stages of nocturnal and daytime sleep. This cardiac autonomic profile, measured by heart rate variability (HRV), has been associated with significant benefits for cardiovascular health. Aging is associated with decreased nighttime sleep quality and lower parasympathetic activity during both sleep and resting. However, it is not known whether age-related dampening of HRV extends to daytime sleep, diminishing the cardiovascular benefits of naps in the elderly. Here, we investigated this question by comparing the autonomic activity profile between young and older healthy adults during a daytime nap and a similar period of wakefulness (quiet wake; QW). For each condition, from the electrocardiogram (ECG), we obtained beat-to-beat HRV intervals (RR), root mean square of successive differences between adjacent heart-beat-intervals (RMSSD), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF) power and total power (TP), HF normalized units (HFnu), and the LF/HF ratio. As previously reported, young subjects showed a parasympathetic dominance during NREM, compared with REM, pre-nap rest, and WASO. On the other hand, older, compared to younger, adults showed significantly lower vagally-mediated HRV (measured by RMSSD, HF, HFnu) during NREM. Interestingly, however, no age-related differences were detected during pre-nap rest or QW. Altogether, our findings suggest a sleep-specific reduction in parasympathetic modulation that is unique to NREM sleep in older adults.Impact StatementSleep is naturally modulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), with greater dominance of parasympathetic over sympathetic activity during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep. As such, sleep has been termed a “cardiovascular holiday” and has been associated with positive health outcomes. Aging, however, is linked to decreases in cardiac autonomic activity and sympathovagal imbalance. While the impact of aging on ANS activity during nocturnal sleep has received some attention, the cardiac profiles during a daytime nap, to our knowledge, have not yet been studied under the context of aging. Herein, young adults demonstrated increased parasympathetic activity during deep sleep. Older adults, however, showed less parasympathetic modulation during NREM sleep, suggesting loss of the cardiovascular holiday. Importantly, no age-related declines in parasympathetic activity were detected during wake, suggesting a sleep-specific reduction in parasympathetic modulation that is unique to NREM sleep in older adults.

show abstract

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation and parasympathetic function in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exercise Frequency Determines Heart Rate Variability Gains in Older People: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Cited by 48 publications

References 64 publications

Heart Rate Variability Mainly Relates to Cognitive Executive Functions and Improves Through Exergame Training in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Heart Rate Variability Mainly Relates to Cognitive Executive Functions and Improves Through Exergame Training in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Age-related losses in cardiac autonomic activity during a daytime nap

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation and parasympathetic function in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About