Comparative Analysis of Cardiorespiratory Parameters of Basketball and Soccer Players Using Principal Component Analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a statistical technique used to identify variations in multivariate data obtained during the performance of the maximum ergospirometry test (MET). To use the PCA to compare the coefficients of change of the principal component (PC1) using the eigenvalue and the maximum values of the cardiorespiratory variables obtained in the athletes' in MET. 10 soccer players and 10 basketball players, all male, were evaluated. The PCA analyzed the values of the variables during the performance of the MET. The PC1 for each variable was calculated, and the eigenvalue was generated, representing the coefficients of variation of the PC1 of all variables. In the quantitative assessment (maximum values), a higher VO2max (3.93±0.62 vs. 3.41±0.37 l·min-1) was observed in basketball players compared to soccer players (p<0.05). The qualitative evaluation using PC1 of cardiorespiratory parameters (heart rate, minute volume, O2 consumption, CO2 production, expired fraction of O2 and expired fraction CO2) was observed as an eigenvalue (6.50±0.27 vs. 6.22±0.19) high for basketball players compared to soccer players (p<0.05). It is concluded that the basketball players showed more significant variability in their cardiorespiratory variables during the performance of the MET and higher VO2max at the end of the MET. These findings indicate that basketball players were less efficient in buffering the ventilatory acidosis observed during the MET. The results of this study highlight the importance of making complex assessments of the cardiorespiratory system, providing qualitative information to complement the quantitative data.