Influence of Body Shape Index and Heart Rate Variability in Athletes as Assessed During Treadmill Exercise

Abstract

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is emanating as one of the most effectual techniques for probing the intricate and ever-evolving changes in the oscillations of a healthy heart, allowing us to guard against any abrupt physical threat to homeostasis, such as that which occurs when a person exercises. Aims and Objectives: To study the influence of body shape index with HRV indices in athletic population during treadmill exercise in athletic population. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out on 120 healthy subjects and 30 athletes in the age range 17-35 years. Short-term HRV (5 min) was extracted from ECG recordings obtained using Power lab system, AD instruments and was analyzed by LabChart software in accordance to the standards set forth by the Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Results: Out of 30 athletes, there were a total of 17 (56%) male subjects and 13(44%) female subjects. Out of 120 controls, male subjects were 50 (41.66%) and females were 70 (58.33%). The mean age of males was 21.06±3.02 and that of females was 22.50 ± 6.25. A statistically significant positive (r=0.56) correlation between BSI and HRV on treadmill exercise was observed. Conclusion: Examining HR variations offers a window to evaluate the condition and integrity of ANS. In this study, the extent to which the ANS contributed to obesity was assessed and the relationship of measure of cardiovascular risk, a newly established and pragmatic metric Body Shape Index (ABSI) with the HRV indicators in the athletic population was explored.