Heart rate responses to exercise are significantly different in men vs. women. A large cohort of exercise testing was analyzed in order to determine sex-based equations for the peak exercise heart rate. Non imaging exercise tests performed on 25,882 patients aged 40-89 years were included in the analysis. Linear regression was used to relate the peak exercise heart rate to age in men and women, while intercepts and slopes were compared by t-tests. The resulting linear equations are graphed in this figure.

190 -+Men 180 --Women Traditional Men: 170 Peak HR = 216 - 0.93 x Age Peak HR (beats/minutes) 160 Women: 150 Peak HR = 200 - 0.67 x Age Traditional: 140 Peak HR = 220 - Age 130 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 Age Group (Years)