Maximum Heart Rate for Older Adults

Age-Based Prediction

• The American Heart Association recommends a maximum heart rate of approximately 155 beats per minute for a 65-year-old woman, with fitness level not substantially modifying this age-based prediction 1
• The American Heart Association provides specific target heart rate ranges for older adults, with the average maximum heart rate for a 65-year-old listed as 155 bpm, representing the standard age-predicted maximum regardless of fitness status 1, 2, 3

Clinical Application

• The American Heart Association suggests a target heart rate zone of 78-116 bpm (50-75% of maximum) for moderate intensity exercise in a 65-year-old woman 1, 2
• The American Heart Association defines vigorous intensity threshold as >116 bpm (>75% of maximum) for a 65-year-old woman 1, 2

Important Caveats

• The American College of Cardiology recommends that achievement of 85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate should not be used as a strict exercise termination criterion, and exercise tests should continue to volitional fatigue unless significant ischemia or symptoms develop 4
• The American College of Cardiology defines chronotropic incompetence as achieving <80% of the calculated chronotropic response value of 206 - (0.88 × age) = 148.8 bpm for women 4