The purpose of the study was to evaluate the within-day and between-day
variation of systolic and diastolic time intervals at rest and during dynamic
exercise. Eleven healthy subjects (aged 19-27 years) were included. Systolic
and diastolic time intervals were recorded mechanocardiographically at rest
and during bicycle ergometer exercise (heart rate 148-156 bpm) at 4 time
points on 3 separate days with intervals of about 10 days (day 1, day 10 and
day 20). Electromechanical systole (QS(2)I) was the most stable of all systolic
time intervals, showing no statistically significant within-day or between-day
variation. The intraindividual coefficient of variation (CV) for QS(2)I was 1.8%
at rest and 2.2% during exercise. Left ventricular ejection time (LVETI)
showed consistently higher values in the morning (p < 0.001), whereafter only
minor fluctuations were seen. The CV for LVETI was 2.7% at rest and 2.8%
during exercise. The preejection period (PEP) showed great fluctuations (p <
0.01); the CV was 12% at rest and 32% during exercise. Percentage of diastolic
time showed a significant within-day variation (p < 0.05) during exercise only.
The CV for percentage of diastolic time was 6.1% at rest and 8.5% during
exercise. Of the time intervals, QS(2)I was especially stable both at rest and
during dynamic exercise and remained so during a time span of 20 days.