Equations used to predict maximum heart rate in the non-athletic pediatric population: a systematic review

AIMS: To evaluate the applicability of the predictive equations of maximum heart rate during exercise tests in non-athlete children and adolescents. METHODS: It is a systematic review, carried out through Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo and PEDro. We included studies comparing the maximum heart rate measured and estimated by predictive equations during stress tests in non-athlete children and adolescents. The following search strategy was used: Exercise test OR Exercise testing OR Cardiopulmonary exercise test OR Cardiopulmonary exercise testing OR Peak oxygen uptake OR Maximal oxygen consumption OR Exercise tolerance OR Exercise capacity AND Heart rate OR Heart rates OR Pulse rate OR Pulse rates OR Heart rate control OR Cardiac chronotropic OR Predictive value test AND Predictive equations. The methodological quality was assessed by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality scale. RESULTS: Of a total of 858 articles located, only four were included. The articles totaled 325 participants (seven to 18 years). All studies measured the maximum heart rate by cardiopulmonary stress test. While no study recommended (04/04=100%; 01/01=100%) the formulas “220 - age” and “207 - 0.7 x age”, the equations “208 - (0.7 x age)” and “200 - 0.48 x age” were adequate in 02/03 (66.6%) articles and 01/01 (100%) document, respectively. The methodological quality was considered high in all articles evaluated, ranging from 76 to 97 points. CONCLUSIONS: The findings seem to suggest that the formula “208 - (0.7 x age)” was the most tested and adequate equation to a large extent for estimating maximum heart rate in non-athlete children and adolescents. However, further studies are still needed to confirm these results.