Maximal Heart Rate and Treadmill Performance of Healthy Women in Relation to Age

Maximal treadmill exercise heart rate, work capacity and electrocardiographic response were studied in 95 asymptomatic, predominantly sedentary women between the ages of 19 and 69 years. Average maximal heart rate (MHR) was found inversely related to age, such that MHR = 216 - 0.88 (years of age) ± 10 beats/min (Xi 1 SD). Treadmill exercise endurance was 7.64 min ± 1.99. The reduction of treadmill endurance with advancing age was not statistically significant. Asymptomatic ST-segment depression occurred in 6% of subjects. In 5% the ST segment sloped upward, and in 1% it was flat. Mean age of women with ST depression was 52 years, compared with 39 years mean age of all subjects. Premature beats during exercise were found in 20 of 95 subjects, and were not related to age. Graded exercise testing of women employing target heart rates should use heart rate tables developed especially for women. These tables do not require correction for athletically trained or sedentary life-style.

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