Comparative Study Of Diurnal Variations In Electrocardiographic Intervals Of Non-Athletes And Athletes In Zaria Nigeria

Abstract There is paucity of information on the diurnal variation in electrocardiogram ECG parameters of normal individuals especially those subjected to physical exertion. The aim of the study was to determine changes in patterns of ECG intervals of normal young adults with variations in hours of the day and to compare the changes between athletes and non-athletes. The study investigated resting ECG values from 30 athletes 20 males and 10 females and compared with those obtained from 26 non-athletes 16 males and 10 females in the same laboratory. ECG recordings were performed according to the recommendation of Society for Cardiological Science and Technology 2006. Recordings were made at 0700 h 1200 h and 1700 h daily for two days consecutively for all the subjects. Intervals considered included P-wave duration PR interval QRS interval QT interval and the corrected QT interval QTc. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Students t-test and were expressed as meanSEM. The results of the study revealed that values of all the measured parameters for all the subjects were all within normal range and a significant P 0.05 diurnal variation. The results also indicated that there was a higher P 0.05 range of ECG interval variations in males than females and in athletes compared to non-athletes In conclusion the study showed that the ECG intervals exhibited diurnal variation and that exercise exerted effects on diurnal variations of ECG intervals in man.