Ultra-endurance sports have no negative impact on indices of arterial stiffness
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
24141936
Description
Purpose
Marathon running has been linked with higher arterial stiffness. Blood pressure is a major contributor to pulse wave velocity (PWV). We examined indices of arterial stiffness with a blood pressure-independent method in marathon runners and ultra-endurance athletes.
Methods
Male normotensive amateur runners were allocated to three groups according to former participation in competitions: group I (recreational athletes), group II (marathon runners) and group III (ultra-endurance athletes). Indices of arterial stiffness were measured with a non-invasive device (VaSera VS-1500N, Fukuda Denshi, Japan) to determine the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI, primary endpoint) and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). Lifetime training hours were calculated. Cumulative competitions were expressed as marathon equivalents. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine predictors for CAVI and baPWV.
Results
Measurements of arterial stiffness were performed in 51 subjects (mean age 44.6 ± 1.2 years): group I (n = 16), group II (n = 19) and group III (n = 16). No between-group differences existed in age, anthropometric characteristics and resting BP. CAVI and baPWV were comparable between all groups (P = 0.604 and P = 0.947, respectively). In linear regression analysis, age was the only independent predictor for CAVI (R 2 = 0.239, β = 0.455, P = 0.001). Systolic BP was significantly associated with baPWV (R 2 = 0.225, β = 0.403, P = 0.004).
Conclusions
In middle-aged normotensive athletes marathon running and ultra-endurance sports had no negative impact on arterial stiffness.
Marathon running has been linked with higher arterial stiffness. Blood pressure is a major contributor to pulse wave velocity (PWV). We examined indices of arterial stiffness with a blood pressure-independent method in marathon runners and ultra-endurance athletes.
Methods
Male normotensive amateur runners were allocated to three groups according to former participation in competitions: group I (recreational athletes), group II (marathon runners) and group III (ultra-endurance athletes). Indices of arterial stiffness were measured with a non-invasive device (VaSera VS-1500N, Fukuda Denshi, Japan) to determine the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI, primary endpoint) and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). Lifetime training hours were calculated. Cumulative competitions were expressed as marathon equivalents. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine predictors for CAVI and baPWV.
Results
Measurements of arterial stiffness were performed in 51 subjects (mean age 44.6 ± 1.2 years): group I (n = 16), group II (n = 19) and group III (n = 16). No between-group differences existed in age, anthropometric characteristics and resting BP. CAVI and baPWV were comparable between all groups (P = 0.604 and P = 0.947, respectively). In linear regression analysis, age was the only independent predictor for CAVI (R 2 = 0.239, β = 0.455, P = 0.001). Systolic BP was significantly associated with baPWV (R 2 = 0.225, β = 0.403, P = 0.004).
Conclusions
In middle-aged normotensive athletes marathon running and ultra-endurance sports had no negative impact on arterial stiffness.
Date of Publication
2013
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Additional Credits
Series
European journal of applied physiology
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
1439-6319
Access(Rights)
open.access