Effect of age and gender on heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise during cardiac rehabilitation in patients with angina pectoris, recent acute myocardial infarction, or coronary bypass surgery.

The effect of exercise training on the heart rate recovery (HRR) response to submaximal effort was examined in 81 patients during 12 weeks of phase II cardiac rehabilitation. Although HRR after submaximal effort was relatively reduced in older patients with heart disease and in women, its increase during exercise training in men and women of all ages was consistent with enhancement of parasympathetic tone during activities of daily living.