Abstract
Background
To our knowledge, heart rate responses have not previously been assessed in hockey
fans. We quantified heart rate increases in spectators of the Montreal Canadiens,
compared televised with live games, explored features associated with peak heart rates,
and assessed whether increases correlate with a fan passion score.
Methods
Healthy adults were enrolled, with half attending live games and half viewing televised
games. All subjects completed questionnaires and had continuous Holter monitoring.
Intensity of the physical stress response was defined according to previously published
heart rate index thresholds as mild (< 1.33), moderate (1.33-1.83), or vigorous (>
1.83).
Results
In 20 participants, 35% women, age 46 ± 10 years, the heart rate increased by a median
of 92% during the hockey game, from 60 (interquartile range, 54-65) beats per minute
at rest to 114 (interquartile range, 103-129) beats per minute (P < 0.001). The heart rate increased by 110% vs 75% during live vs televised games
(P < 0.001). Heart rate index (2.16 ± 0.27 vs 1.73 ± 0.15; P < 0.001) and percent maximum predicted heart rate attained (75% ± 8% vs 58% ± 7%;
P < 0.001) were significantly higher during live vs televised games. Number of premature
beats was nonsignificantly higher during live games (5 vs 1; P = 0.181). The fan passion score was not predictive of the heart rate response (P = 0.753). Peak heart rates most commonly occurred during overtime (40%) and scoring
opportunities for (25%) and against (15%).
Conclusions
It is exciting to watch the Montreal Canadiens! Viewing a live hockey game is associated
with a heart rate response equivalent to vigorous physical stress and a televised
game to moderate physical stress.
Résumé
Contexte
Pour autant que nous sachions, les réactions de la fréquence cardiaque chez les amateurs
de hockey n’ont pas encore été évaluées. Nous avons quantifié les augmentations de
la fréquence cardiaque chez les spectateurs des Canadiens de Montréal, avons comparé
les réactions aux matchs télévisés et aux matchs en direct, exploré les éléments associés
aux fréquences cardiaques maximales, et évalué si les augmentations étaient corrélées
à une cote de passion de l’amateur.
Méthode
Des adultes sains ont été recrutés; la moitié d’entre eux a assisté à des matchs en
direct et l’autre moitié à des matchs télévisés. Tous les sujets ont rempli les questionnaires
et ont été suivis en continu au moyen d’un moniteur Holter. L’intensité des réactions
de stress physique a été caractérisée, à l’aide des seuils d’un indice de coût cardiaque
déjà publiés, comme étant légère (< 1,33), modérée (1,33-1,83) ou vigoureuse (> 1,83).
Résultats
Chez ces 20 participants de 46 ans ± 10 ans, dont 35 % étaient des femmes, la fréquence
cardiaque a augmenté de 92 % (valeur médiane) pendant le match de hockey, passant
de 60 (intervalle interquartile : 54-65) battements par minute au repos à 114 (intervalle
interquartile : 103-129) battements par minute (p < 0,001). La fréquence cardiaque a augmenté de 110 % pendant les matchs en direct
et de 75 % pendant les matchs télévisés (p < 0,001). L’indice de coût cardiaque (2,16 ± 0,27 vs 1,73 ± 0,15; p < 0,001) et le pourcentage de la fréquence cardiaque maximale théorique atteint (75 % ±
8 % vs 58 % ± 7 %; p < 0,001) ont été significativement plus élevés pendant les matchs en direct que pendant
les matchs télévisés. Le nombre de battements prématurés a été plus élevé pendant
les matchs en direct, mais pas de manière significative (5 vs 1; p = 0,181). La cote de passion de l’amateur ne s’est pas révélée être prédictive des
réactions de la fréquence cardiaque (p = 0,753). Les fréquences cardiaques maximales ont été plus fréquentes pendant les
prolongations (40 %) et lors des occasions de marquer des Canadiens (25 %) et de l’adversaire
(15 %).
Conclusions
Regarder les Canadiens de Montréal est excitant! Regarder un match de hockey en direct
est associé à une réaction de la fréquence cardiaque équivalente à un stress physique
vigoureux quand le match est en direct et à un stress physique modéré quand il est
télévisé.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: October 04, 2017
Accepted:
August 2,
2017
Received:
July 17,
2017
Footnotes
See editorial by Waters and Nattel, pages 1517–1519 of this issue.
See page 1638 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
