Stratification of the level of aerobic fitness based on heart rate variability parameters in adult males at rest

Abstract

This study aimed to determine a model for stratifying the maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) based on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters at rest. It was applied 70 young adult physically active male. After recording the resting tachogram with a heart rate monitor for 5 min, a maximal incremental test was performed to measure VO₂max. Based on VO₂max percentile, participants were divided into two groups of 35: high (HG) and low (LG) aerobic fitness group. Groups were compared according to: (1) VO₂max; (2) Classical HRV parameters and the cardiac deceleration rate (CDR). HG presented significant higher VO₂max than LG (48.61 ± 6.70 vs 34.62 ± 3.81 ml.kg^-1.min^-1). The HG higher values in the time domain HRV parameters, as well as in the high frequency contents in the frequency domain. Also, CDR index was significant higher for HG than LG (p<0.01). The model for predicting VO₂max was obtained by backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression assuming as independent variables CDR and pNN50. This model presented 85.74% positive predictive value, 88.51% negative predictive value and 87.16% total accuracy. In conclusion, the use of the proposed model was able to stratify the level of aerobic fitness in young healthy adult males at rest.