Is breathing frequency a potential means for monitoring exercise intensity in people with atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease when heart rate is mitigated?

Buckley, John P.; Terada, Tasuku; Lion, Anna; Reed, Jennifer L.

Abstract

Purpose: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is safe and beneficial in atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Irregular or rapid heart rates (HR) in AF and other heart conditions create a challenge to using HR to monitor exercise intensity. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of breathing frequency (BF) to monitor exercise intensity in people with AF and CHD without AF. Methods: This observational study included 30 AF participants (19 Male, 70.7 ± 8.7 yrs) and 67 non-AF CHD participants (38 Male, 56.9 ± 11.4 yrs). All performed an incremental maximal exercise test with pulmonary gas exchange. Results: Peak aerobic power in AF (V˙O2peak; 17.8 ± 5.0ml.kg−1.min−1) was lower than in CHD (26.7ml.kg−1.min−1) (p <.001). BFresponses in AF and CHD were similar (BF peak:AF34.6 ± 5.4 and CHD36.5 ± 5.0 breaths.min−1; p =.106);at the 1st ventilatory threshold (BF@VT-1: AF 23.2 ± 4.6; CHD 22.4 ± 4.6 breaths.min−1; p =.240). %V˙O2peak at VT-1were similar inAF and CHD (AF: 59%; CHD: 57%; p =.656). Conclusion: With the use of wearable technologies on the rise, that now include BF, this first study provides an encouraging potential for BF to be used in AF and CHD. As the supporting data are based on incremental ramp protocol results, further research is required to assess BF validity to manage exercise intensity during longer bouts of exercise.

Citation

Buckley, J. P., Terada, T., Lion, A., & Reed, J. L. (2024). Is breathing frequency a potential means for monitoring exercise intensity in people with atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease when heart rate is mitigated?. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 124, 2881–2891. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05487-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 4, 2024
• Publication Date: May 4, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 5, 2024
• Journal: European Journal of Applied Physiology
• Print ISSN: 1439-6319
• Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 124
• Pages: 2881–2891
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05487-2
• Keywords: Anaerobic threshold, Cardiac rehabilitation, Heart rate, Breathing rate
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35141243
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-024-05487-2
• Additional Information: Received: 6 March 2023; Accepted: 5 April 2024; First Online: 4 May 2024; : ; : JP Buckley has been supported by institution level funding only and has no conflicts of interest. T Terada has been supported by institution level funding only and has no conflicts of interest. A Lion has been supported by institution level funding only and has no conflicts of interest. JL Reed has been supported by: Innovations Fund of the Alternate Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centre of the Ministry of Ontario, Canada; New Investigator Award in Clinical Rehabilitation from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Emerging Research Leaders Initiative and has no other conflicts of interest.