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Londeree 1982
Londeree 1982
To cite this article: Ben R. Londeree & Melvin L. Moeschberger (1982) Effect of Age and Other Factors on Maximal Heart Rate,
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 53:4, 297-304, DOI: 10.1080/02701367.1982.10605252
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LONDEREE AND MOESCHBERGER
RESEARCH QUARTERLY
FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT
1982, Vol. 53, No.4, pp. 297-304
In an attempt to reduce the confusion regarding reported effects of the possibilities of a nonlinear regression between HR
age upon maximal exercise heart rate (HR max), a comprehensive max and age or the simultaneous effects of other fac-
review of the English literature was conducted to obtain tors upon the regression, e.g., type of ergometer, sex,
descriptive statistical data representing over 23,000 independent state of fitness, exercise protocol, nationality, and race.
subjectsfrom 5 to 81 years old. The data were split randomly into On the other hand, there have been many investiga-
two data setsfor independent regression analyses. HR max was
tions which have found differences in HR max due to
the dependent variable while independent variables include: age,
some of the above factors without considering age. It
age", age", age", sex, level offitness, type of ergometer, exercise
protocol, continent of residence, and race. After cross validation
was the purpose of this study to pool the available
the data were pooled and reanalyzed. Additional validation was published data on HR max and through multiple
accomplished on identifiable subsets qf the data, e.g., cross stepwise regression analyses to establish equations
sectional, longitudinal, training, comparative ergometry, and which would take all of these factors into account si-
comparative sex studies. Results identified negative linear and multaneously. These equations should reduce the er-
non-linear age factors, an ergometryfactor, a fitness factor and a rors produced by assuming that a subject has an aver-
continentfactor. Age accountedfor about 70-75% of the age HR max. As will be shown in the discussion, a great
variability. Generalized equations were proposed. Even with all deal of variability remains after all of the above factors
factors accounted for, the 95% confidence interval of individual are considered. Therefore caution should be the rule
HR max was about 45 beats/min. Tables ofHR max derivedfrom
when using average values for HR max.
the equations are included.
Procedures
Key words: maximal heart rate, age, sex, race, car-
English language literature from 1950 to 1975 was
diorespiratory fitness, exercise prescrip-
searched as completely as possible and pre 1950 re-
tion, ergometry.
search was reviewed selectively for data representing
HR max as well as variables which were considered as
factors which might influence HR max. The data re-
P rescription of exercise usually is at a specified per- corded included: number of subjects, age, sex, an es-
cent of maximal oxygen uptake or a specified percent timate of fitness, HR max, standard error of HR max,
of maximal exercise heart rate (HR max). Since, for standard deviation of HR max, type of ergometer
example, 75% of HR max is equivalent to 60% of used, testing procedures, continent of residence, race,
maximal oxygen uptake regardless of the state of fit- and repetition number if there were repeated mea-
ness (Londeree & Ames, 1976), the resulting- prescrip- sures. Data which were not on an interval scale were
tions are equivalent. However, taking a test to deter- dummy coded (Kerlinger & Pedhazur, 1973). Age was
mine maximal oxygen uptake or HR max is quite dif- expanded through the fourth power to permit study
ficult for the subject. In lieu of a maximal exercise test, for nonlinear trends. Data were recorded from 388
prescription often is made from a submaximal exercise sources and resulted in 1140 data subsets (a data subset
test and an assumed HR max corrected for age. Unfor- was subjects within a particular age range) with 2 to
tunately, numerous cross sectional studies (including 1750 subjects represented by each data subset. A total
those shown in Table 4) have reported widely differing of over 23,000 subjects aged 5-81 years was repre-
HR max-age tables or regression equations. In addi- sented by the data. For the primary analyses, repeated
tion, previous studies apparently have not investigated measures on subjects were excluded and treadmill
ported in this paper. However, both equations which To substantiate the apparent similarity of the equa-
did and which did not utilize interactions among the tions developed from the two validation samples, the
independent variables are included. Pooling of the best equation from each solution was used to calculate
data permitted calculation of standard deviations by PMHR (predicted HR max) scores for each data subset
five year intervals for the various groupings of sub- in each validation sample and each PMHR solution
jects. Additional comparative analyses (analysis of var- was correlated with observed HR max and the other
iance, regression analysis, or t test) were conducted PMHRs. The correlations between HR max and
using pooled data from sources which included the PMHR for the various equations ranged between
appropriate information: changes with training, dif- 0.836 and 0.889. The correlations among the various
ferent types of ergometry, and differences between PMHRs ranged between 0.994 and 0.999. It is obvious
sexes. that the equations agreed quite well between the vali-
200
190
-Q)
e
CI::
180
E C2 F2 F3 F4
-...
c
170
0
0
0 0
0
1
0
0
1
Q)
:I: 160
...
.- --
.........
0
1
1
0
0
1 1
0
0
0
0
0
1
......... 1 0 0 1 0
--+0- 1 0 1 0 0
150
--.... - 1 1 0 0 0
~ 1 1 0 0 1
~ 1 1 0 1 0
-...... - 1 1 1 0 0
140
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Age
Figure 1-Curves developed from the interaction equation. Under ergometer (E) 0 bicycle and 1 = =
=
treadmill; under C2, F2, F3, and F4, 1 class inclu~ion, l.e., a member of that category, and 0
= class exclusion. See Table 1 for additional detaIls.
Table 1
Regression Equations for HR Max
Reflecting Significant Variables via Stepwise Procedures
Source Equations R
1. PMHR1 = 196.7+1.986xC2+5.361 xE+1.490xF4+3.730xF3+4.036xF2-0.0006x
ALO.542xN 0.8772
2. PMHRI = 199.1+0.119xAEF4+0.112xAE+6.280xEF3+2.468xC2+3.485xF2-0.0006x
ALO.591 xA 0.8841
3. PMHRC = 205.0-3.574xT1+8.316xE-7.624xF5-0.0004xALO.624xA 0.9207
4. PMHRCI = 205.0-0.116xAEF3-0.223xAF5+0.210xAE+6.876xEF3+2.091 xC2-3.310x
T1-0.0005xA4_0.654xA 0.9264
5. PMHR = 206.3-0.711 xA 0.8451
6. PMHR = 202.8-0.533xA-0.0006xA4 0.8524
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various predictors other than the linear component of true HR max, or because older subjects with high HR
age was done to identify families of curves represent- max were not available (e.g., no inclination to exercise,
ing significant subpopulations and, within these disease, or death). The greater effect on the bicycle
groups, to improve the curve fitting. data suggested that reduced leg strength and/or local
The equations developed in this study probably rep- fatigue and/or tolerance to discomfort may have been
resent a slightly conservative estimate of HR max, for involved. In addition, laboratory personnel may have
several reasons. This conclusion is suggested in Table 4 been less willing to push older subjects to exhaustion.
by the comparisons between the PMHR from the cur- Two types of solutions were presented initially: with
rent equations and several cross sectional studies re- and without interactions. The primary advantage of
ported in the literature. First, in some studies it was the interaction equations would be allowance for dif-
likely that some, perhaps many of the subjects failed to ferent slopes for treadmill and bicycle predictions;
attain their HR max; while, by definition, none of the these differences account for 3-4% of the variability,
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subjects could have exceeded their HR max. Deletion while fitness explained less than 2% of the variance.
from the total data set of those data subsets which fell On the other hand, the noninteraction equations re-
lower than two standard errors below the correspond- quire less complicated calculations. Data in the cross
ing prediction had essentially no effect on the results; sectional studies represented situations in which sub-
at age 60 the deletion equation resulted in a prediction jects over a fairly wide age range were measured in the
that was 1.2 beats/min higher, but there was no differ- same lab under similar conditions. The higher correla-
ence at age 20. However, if a substantial number of the tions between HR max and the cross sectional PMHRs
studies were biased in this manner, then the equations probably reflect the greater spread in the former
would underestimate the true mean HR max in the curves which would tend to fit the disperse data better.
population. Finally, with only a small loss in efficiency (6.7% and
A second conservative bias would result from using 5.5%) and much simpler calculations, an equation in-
the heart rate attained at maximal oxygen consump- volving only age as an independent variable could be
tion when testing trained subjects. It has been shown used (equations 5 and 6 in Table 1). These age only
that prior to initiating a training program subjects equations have been plotted in Figure 2. The age only
attain HR max and maximal oxygen consumption at equations will estimate HR max values which will be
about the same time, but with continued training max- too low (1-3 beats/min) for treadmill tests and too high
imal oxygen consumption is reached at less than HR (1-3 beats/min) for bicycle tests for the older ages.
max (Davies et al., 1970). This phenomenon would When all of the above factors were considered it was
bias the HR max value only with trained subjects when felt that the interaction equation (#2) had the most to
using an on line computer system or discontinuous offer. For a quick, rough estimate one of the age only
tests where gas analysis would permit termination of equations would suffice.
the exercise when a plateau in oxygen consumption For the average reader the equations in Table 1 may
occurred, rather than continuing to exhaustion. Few be confusing to use since various terms will drop out
of these studies gave enough procedural details to whenever a factor is coded zero, e.g., AEF4 will be zero
ascertain exactly how HR max was determined. How- for bicycle data and all fitness groups except F4 (en-
ever, if the purpose of estimating HR max is to predict durance trained). Therefore equations 1-6 were
maximal oxygen consumption and/or some percent of solved for a continuous treadmill test for sedentary
the same, e.g., when prescribing exercise, then the non-Europeans; the results are shown in Table 4.
failure to attain an absolute HR max in active subjects Selected comparative data from the literature are pre-
presents no problem. In such a case the heart rate sented, also. Recall that equations 5 and 6 represent
occurring with maximal oxygen consumption would both treadmill and bicycle data; treadmill HR max
tend to improve estimation of the latter. should be 1-3 beats/min higher and bicycle HR max
A third possible source of conservative bias in pre- should be 1-3 beats/min lower above age 50. Finally,
dicting HR max may have existed in the older subjects. PMHRs calculated from equation 2 are shown in Table
The regression analysis identified a negative nonlinear 5 along with comparable data from the literature. The
effect of age on HR max; the influence on bicycle HR values for the current study in Table 5 take into ac-
max was more pronounced than on treadmill HR max. count the linear and nonlinear age, the ergometer, and
These results could have occurred because it was a true the fitness factors. If used in a European setting 2.5
phenomenon, because older subjects failed to reach a beats/min should be added to the tabled values.
200
190
-Gl
D
ICIl::
180
-. 170
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D
Gl
~
160 A
A&A4
150
140
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
A ge
Figure 2-Regression lines representing the linear component of age (A) and the linear and curvilinear
(A4/1000) components.
Table 4
PMHRs (bpm) for a Continuous Treadmill Test for Sedentary Non-Europeans
Table 5
PMHRs (bpm) Calculated from Equation #10 and Obtained from the Literature
Current Study1 Treadmill data from the literature Bicycle data from the literature
Cumming Astrand
Age Treadmill Bicycle Cooper 1975 Drinkwater 1975 Froelicher 1974 Lester 1968 1972 Wilmore 1970 1967
La- Mid- Hi- Seden- Seden- Seden- Seden- Seden-
F22 F3 F4 F2 Fot her • fit fit fit tary Active tary Active tary Active tary tary Trained Active
20 193 196 192191 187 201 201 196 190 196 197 193 197 190 191 184
25 190193190188 184 195 197 194 194 190 194 190 195 188
30 188191 188184 181 190 193 191 192 188 193 186 188 182
35 185 188 186181 178 184 190 188 185 183 189 185 191 184 177
40 182 185 183177 174 179 186 186 186 182 189 182 178 179 176
45 179 181 181174 170 174 183 183 177 179 183 179 187 180 176 173
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50 175178177169 166 168 179 180 181 177 184 177 174
55 171 174174165 161 163 176 178 180 179 178 174 182 175 172 179 169 164
60 166 169 170159 156 158 172 175 180 173
65 161 164 165154 150 152 169 173 178 171 163 155
70 155 157 159147 143 147 165 170 176 169
1Add 2.5 bpm for Europeans
2F2 = sedentary, F3 = active, F4 = moderately trained, Fot her • = all groups except F2
Drinkwater, B. L., Horvath, S. M., and Wells, C. L. Aerobic Robinson, S. Experimental studies of physical fitness in rela-
power of females, Ages 10 to 68. journal of Gerontology, tion to age. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Angewandt
1975,30, 385-594. Physiologie, 1938, /0, 251-323.
Froelicher, V. F., Jr., Allen, M., and Lancaster, M. C. Maxi- Wilmore,]. H., Royce,]., Girandola, R N., Katch, F. I., and
mal treadmill testing of normal USAF air crewman. Katch, V. L. Physiological alterations resulting from a
AerospaceMedicine, 1974,45, 310-315. 10-week program of jogging. Medicine and Science in
Kerlinger, F. N., and Pedhazur, E.]. Multiple regression in Sports, 1970,2,7-14.
behavioral research. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and
Winston, 1973.
Lester, M., Sheffield, L. T., Trammell, P., and Reeves, T. J. Submitted: October24, 1978
The effect of age and athletic training on maximal heart Accepted: February 13,1982
rate during muscular exercise. American Heart journal,
1968,76,370-376.
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