HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND BODY COMPOSITION AS VO2MAX DETERMINANTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: The maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) is the gold standard in the cardiorespiratory endurance assessment. Objective: This study aimed to develop a mathematical model that contains variables to determine the VO2max of sedentary people. Methods: Twenty participants (10 men and 10 women) with a mean age of 19.8±1.77 years were included. For each participant, body composition (percentage of fat and muscle), heart rate variability (HRV) at rest (supine and standing), and VO2max were evaluated through an indirect test on a cycloergometer. A multivariate linear regression model was developed from the data obtained, and the model assumptions were verified. Results: Using the data obtained, including percentage of fat (F), percentage of muscle (M), percentage of power at very low frequency (VLF), α-value of the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAα1), heart rate (HR) in the resting standing position, and age of the participants, a model was established for men, which was expressed as VO2max = 4.216 + (Age*0.153) + (F*0.110) - (M*0.053) - (VLF*0.649) - (DFAα1*2.441) - (HR*0.014), with R2 = 0.965 and standard error = 0.146 L/min. For women, the model was expressed as VO2max = 1.947 - (Age*0.047) + (F*0.024) + (M*0.054) + (VLF*1.949) - (DFAα1*0.424) - (HR*0.019), with R2 = 0.987 and standard error = 0.077 L/min. Conclusion: The obtained model demonstrated the influence exerted by body composition, the autonomic nervous system, and age in the prediction of VO2max.