247: Study of heart rate variability in high level athletes depending on the type of sport

Introduction There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that changes that affect the cardiovascular system during the practice of a high performance sport depends on the predominance of dynamic or static components that characterize each sport. Modifications of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) may explain these changes. There are non invasive tools that can study the ANS such as heart rate variability (HRV) assessed by Holter recording. Aim The purpose of this study is to compare the ANS in a group of elite athletes depending on the class of sports as classified by the 36th Bethesda Conference (dynamic versus static sports). Methods This study included sixty eight asymptomatic athletes who received a 24 Holter recording during their sports career. We analyzed HRV parameters exploring the sympathic nervous system (SDANN 24, SDNN, SDNN5) and the parasympathic nervous system (RMSSD and PNN50 Sports activities have been classified into two groups according to the predominance of the static component or dynamic and with reference to the classification of the 36th Bethesda Conference. Results Our population was composed of 68 athletes. Twenty one athletes practiced static sports and 47 dynamic sports. Both groups were comparable regarding age and sex. Static sport 21 Dynamic sport 47 p SDNN 24 (ms) 176.5±36.5 142±60 NS SDANN (ms) 148±32 99±41 NS SDNN5 (ms) 83±23.5 69.5±15.5 NS RMSSD (ms) 52.5±24 47±15 NS PNN50 24.5±16.5 23.5±10.5 NS Conclusion There was no significant difference in sympathetic and parasympathetic tone among elite athletes in a sport dominated by static component compared to those practicing the sports dominated by the dynamic component.