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The purpose of the current study was to determine the concurrent validity of the Elite HRV smartphone application when calculating heart rate variability (HRV) metrics in reference to an independent software criterion. A total of 5 minutes of R–R interval and natural log of root mean square of the successive differences (lnRMSSD) resting HRV data were simultaneously collected using two Polar H10 heart rate monitors (HRMs) in both the seated and supine positions from 22 participants (14 males, 8 females). One H10 HRM was paired with a Polar V800 watch and one with the Elite HRV application. When no artifact correction was applied, significant, but small, differences in the lnRMSSD data were observed between the software in the seated position (p = 0.022), and trivial and nonstatistically significant differences were observed in the supine position (p = 0.087). However, significant differences (p > 0.05) in the lnRMSSD data were no longer identifiable in either the seated or the supine positions when applying Very Low, Low, or Automatic artifact-correction filters. Additionally, excellent agreements (ICC3,1 = 0.938 − 0.998) and very strong to near-perfect (r = 0.889 − 0.997) relationships were observed throughout all correction levels. The Elite HRV smartphone application is a valid tool for calculating resting lnRMSSD HRV metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scarce information regarding the dietary intake of adults living in Puerto Rico (PR). We aimed to assess intake of nutrients and foods, adherence to recommended intake of nutrients and diet quality, and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors correlated with diet quality among adults in the San Juan metropolitan area of PR. Data were obtained from participants of the cross-sectional convenience-sample Puerto Rico Assessment of Diet, Lifestyle, and Diseases (n = 248; ages 30–75 years). Diet quality was defined using the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI; range 0–110 indicating lower–higher quality). Linear regression models were used to relate AHEI to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Most participants met the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for iron, folate, and vitamins B12 and B6; 61% met the EAR for magnesium and 56% for calcium. Only 4% met the EAR for vitamin D, and 7% met the adequate intake for potassium. The main contributors to total energy intake were sugary beverages (11.8%), sweets/desserts (10.2%), dairy (8.5%), mixed dishes (7.6%), starches (6.3%), fast foods (5.5%), and rice (4.9%). The mean (SD) AHEI score was 59.8 (11.0). The lowest AHEI components for which recommended servings were met were red/processed meats, fruit, sodium, sugary beverages, and polyunsaturated fats, and the highest were nuts/legumes, omega-3 fats, and whole grains. Significantly higher AHEI scores were noted for older adults, other ethnicities (vs. Puerto Rican), being single, having some college or higher education, and never/formerly smoking. Adults living in PR report healthy and unhealthy dietary intakes, providing an opportunity to improve diet at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading type of line-of-duty death among firefighters. An inability to restore parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) control after activity is associated with SCD. Post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) provides unique insight into reactivation of the PSNS. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal changes in HRR responses of 25 male firefighter recruits. HR data were collected after submaximal exercise at week 1 (W1), week 6 (W6), and week 15 (W15) of their training at an academy. Percent maximal heart rate (%MHR) measures were computed at each HRR time point (%MHR 0 , %MHR 15 , %MHR 30 , %MHR 45 , %MHR 60 , %MHR 120 , %MHR 180 ) and absolute HRR values were calculated at 30 s (ΔHRR 30 ), 60 s (ΔHRR 60 ), 120 s (ΔHRR 120 ), and 180 s (ΔHRR 180 ). After controlling for age and percent body fat, there was no statistically significant interaction between Week × HRR ( p = 0.730), and there were no changes in ΔHRR 30 , ΔHRR 60 , and ΔHRR 120 , and ΔHRR 180 indices across time. However, %MHR at W6 and W15 was significantly lower than %MHR at W1 at every HRR time point ( p s < 0.001). Therefore, although the firefighter recruit training academy elicited positive training adaptations, changes in PSNS reactivation after submaximal activity were not identified.