The effect of an aerobic training program on the electrical remodeling of the heart: high-frequency components of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram are predictors of the maximal aerobic power

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 199 - 208
• Main Authors: Marocolo, M., Nadal, J., Benchimol-Barbosa, P.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Long-distance runners; Mathematical model; Maximal aerobic power; Signal-averaged electrocardiogram
• ISSN: 1414-431X; 0100-879X; 1414-431X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2007000200006

Increased heart rate variability (HRV) and high-frequency content of the terminal region of the ventricular activation of signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) have been reported in athletes. The present study investigates HRV and SAECG parameters as predictors of maximal aerobic power (V0 sub(2)max) in athletes. HRV, SAECG and VO sub(2)max were determined in 18 high-performance long-distance (25 plus or minus 6 years; 17 males) runners 24 h after a training session. Clinical visits, ECG and VO sub(2)max determination were scheduled for all athletes during thew training period. A group of 18 untrained healthy volunteers matched for age, gender, and body surface area was included as controls. SAECG was acquired in the resting supine position for 15 min and processed to extract average RR interval (Mean-RR) and root mean squared standard deviation (RMSSD) of the difference of two consecutive normal RR intervals. SAECG variables analyzed in the vector magnitude with 40-250 Hz band-pass bi-directional filtering were: total and 40- mu V terminal (LAS40) duration of ventricular activation, RMS voltage of total (RMST) and of the 40-ms terminal region of ventricular activation. Linear and multivariate stepwise logistic regressions oriented by inter-group comparisons were adjusted in significant variables in order to predict VO sub(2)max, with a P < 0.05 considered to be significant. VO sub(2)max correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with RMST (r = 0.77), Mean-RR (r = 0.62), RMSSD (r = 0.47), and LAS40 (r = -0.39). RMST was the independent predictor of V0 sub(2)max. In athletes, HRV and high-frequency components of the SAECG correlate with V0 sub(2)max and the high-frequency content of SAECG is an independent predictor of V0 sub(2)max.