INTRODUCTION: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by structural alterations of lung parenchyma resulting in systemic manifestations. These patients may have marked change in cardiac autonomic control. In this context, studies investigating heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with COPD during physical exercise cycloergometers have been little explored. OBJECTIVE: To determine the anaerobic threshold through HRV in order to establish parameters of evaluation and prescription of exercise intensity in these patients on a cycloergometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight male patients diagnosed with COPD, mean age 69.5 ± 7.6 years were studied. Heart rate was analyzed at rest and at different intensities of exercise. The test was performed on a cycloergometer and consisted of a warm-up period of four minutes at a minimum power. Steps were performed with initial power of 4W, with increments of 5 in 5W, until the patient reached the anaerobic threshold. RESULTS: Patients that presented higher values of FEV1 showed greater powers during the cycloergometer. Additionally, there was significant reduction in HRV during exercise compared to rest sitting p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Patients had a severe physical deconditioning reaffirmed the impossibility determined by the anaerobic threshold of 50% of the sample.
Anaerobic threshold; Physical exercise; COPD; Heart rate
