OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease which includes Ulcerative colitis(UC)  and Crohn disease(CD) . Various types of dysfunctions associated with cardiovascular system were documented in these patients, including ischemic heart disease, emboli. It has been shown that heart rate recovery(HRR) after exercise was an estimate of impaired parasympathic tone and predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality. The aim of the study was to assess HRR in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS:  52 consecutive patients, admitted to our Hospital, with diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and 50 healthy subjects were included in the study. Basal electrocardiography and tredmill exercise testing were performed in all patients and control grup. Heart rate recovery index was defined as the decrease in the heart rate from peak exercise value to 1 min and 2 min after the termination of the exercise. This HRR was calculated for the first(HRR1) , and the second minutes of recovery phase(HRR2).

 RESULTS: According to basic clinical and demographic characteristics, groups were similar with regard to age and gender. No significant differences were observed in the initial systolic blood pressures or maximal systolic blood pressures or resting heart rates between three groups. All patients and control group participants had sinus rhythm and normal 12 lead ECG results at rest. The maximal heart rate and baseline heart rate during exercise stress test were similar in UC, CD and control groups . The first and the second minute HRR indices of patients with UC and CD were similar to those of the control group (

CONCLUSIONS:  The HRR index, which is calculated by an exercise stress test and associated with autonomic nervous system function, is not affected in UC and CD.