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Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of regular physical activity on heart rate variability (HRV) indices in adult men with and without ischemic heart disease according to physical activity level. Materials and methods: We studied 81 patients aged 35 to 66 years. The examined group consisted of physically active men without cardiovascular diseases (group 1) and male patients with ischemic heart disease who participated in systematic trainings of cardiac rehabilitation (group 2). Next two groups consisted sedentary subjects - healthy persons without physical activity (group 3) and sedentary patients with ischemic heart disease (group 4). Time and frequency parameters were estimated from a short – term HRV procedure using the Medea System. Results: The LF and LF/HF ratios were significantly lower and HF and mRR were significantly higher in the group of physically active men in comparison to the group of sedentary persons in both healthy men and in patients with ischemic heart disease. Conclusions: Regular physical activity positively modifies heart rate variability indices in healthy adult men and in patients with ischemic heart disease.(Clin. Exp. Med. Lett. 2006; 47(2):113-117)

Keywords: HRV, cardiac rehabilitation, ischemic heart disease