Comparison of heart rate response and heart rate recovery after step test among smoker and non-smoker athletes

Background: Exercise performance depend on the ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to a wide range of metabolic demands and physical exertion.
Objectives: To investigate the habitual smoking effects in heart rate response and heart rate recovery after step test in athletes.
Methods: Seventy-eight physically healthy active athletes (45 non-smokers and 33 smokers) aging 27±8years old, participated in this study. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and performed the six-minute step test. Cardiovascular parameters such (resting heart rate, peak heart rate, heart rate at 1 min after testing, heart rate recovery, recovery time, blood pressure at rest, and post-testing blood pressure) were recorded.
Results: Smoker-athletes had higher resting heart rate (76 ± 9bpm vs. 72 ± 10bpm, p<0.05), maximum heart rate (154 ± 18bpm vs. 147 ± 17bpm, p<0.05) and recovery time (7min 25sec ± 6min 31sec vs. 4min 21sec ± 4min 30sec, p<0.05) than non-smoker athletes. Scores from the IPAQ were approximately the same (Μ=7927 ± 10303, Μ= 6380 ± 4539, p<0.05).
Conclusion: Smoking was found to affect athletes' cardiovascular fitness. The change of the athletes’ heart rate recovery and recovery time contributes to the adaptation of cardiovascular function in training requirements.

Keywords
Smoking; athletes; heart rate recovery; heart rate reserve; six-minute step test.