Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to help estimate aerobic fitness in a recent national survey in Finland (Borodulin, 2006). In order to use such a test in the UK it is important to know whether major ethnic groups differ in the relation between HRV and fitness. There is evidence from studies in the USA that African Americans have higher HRV than Americans of European descent (Gutin et al, 2005). An important ethnic group in the UK is that whose origins are in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). This study is a first comparison of fitness and HRV in South Indian versus European origin subjects. Fifteen male subjects, 10 South Asian (mean age 21.3±1.6 years (SD)) and 5 white European (age 21.2±2.7 years) participated. Beat-by-beat heart rates were recorded during the last 6 min of an 8 min period lying supine in a quiet room using a Polar S810 watch and chest strap. Data were analysed using Biosignal v1.1 software (Biomedical Signal Analysis Group, Department of Applied Physics, University of Kuopio, Finland). Several heart rate parameters were determined and RMSSD (the root mean square of successive differences between intervals) was selected as the most suitable measure. Maximum oxygen consumption ([vdot]O2max) was determined by standard breath-by-breath pulmonary gas exchange (CPX Ultima, MedGraphics, Minnesota, USA). Subjects performed a graded exercise test on a bicycle ergometer (Lode Corival, Lode BV, Netherlands) with increasing workload (30 W/min) until exhaustion. Mid five of seven smoothing was applied to the breath-by-breath data using associated software before the determination of maximal oxygen uptake (Breeze Suite, MedGraphics, Minnesota, USA). Resting heart rates averaged 67 for the South Asian group and 63 for the European group. There was a clear approximately linear relation (Runs test, p>0.5) between HRV and [vdot]O2max (Fig. 1) and the data for both ethnic groups were similar (analysis of covariance, p=0.8). It therefore appears that at least for young male subjects the relation between HRV and aerobic fitness is similar for South Asian and European white ethnic groups.
University College London 2006 (2006) Proc Physiol Soc 3, PC123
Poster Communications: The relation between heart rate variability and aerobic fitness for subjects of South Asian ethnic origin
Umair Qureshi1, Dinuka de Silva1, Karl Cooke2, Bruce Lynn1
1. Dept of Physiology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 2. London Sport Institute, Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom.
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Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.