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Acute changes in arterial stiffness following exercise in healthy Caucasians and South Asians

Artery Research volume 13, pages 6–16 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Arterial stiffness and exercise capacity are independent predictors of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to establish the acute changes in arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry following sub-maximal exercise in Caucasians and South Asians. This study also aims to establish the relationship between exercise capacity and arterial stiffness. Methods: In total, 69 participants including 37 Caucasians and 32 South Asians were assessed for arterial stiffness non-invasively using SpygmoCor (SCOR-PVx, Version 8.0, AtCor Medical Inc North America, USA) before and after an exercise test using the Bruce protocol on a treadmill and by measuring aerobic capacity using a metabolic analyser (Medical Graphics, Cardio Control, Minnesota, USA).

Results

Significant increases in arterial stiffness variables were observed including augmentation pressure, subendocardial viability ratio, ejection duration, pulse pressure, augmentation index and mean arterial pressure following exercise in both ethnic groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in these increases between the ethnic groups (p > 0.05). There was no change in pulse wave velocity (p > 0.05). Exercise capacity was inversely related to arterial stiffness (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

There are no differences in arterial stiffness at the baseline and following acute exercise between Caucasians and South Asians. There was significant increase in arterial stiffness following exercise in both groups. Exercise capacity is inversely related to arterial stiffness. The results suggest that non invasive arterial stiffness could be used as a tool to measure acute changes following exercise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, 106 Oxford Road, UB8 1NA, Uxbridge, United Kingdom

    Jeyasundar Radhakrishnan, Dionne Matthew, Keiran Henderson & David A. Brodie

  2. Canadian VIGOUR Centre, Univerisity of Alberta, 2-132 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, T6G 2E1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Jeyasundar Radhakrishnan

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  1. Jeyasundar Radhakrishnan
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Correspondence to Jeyasundar Radhakrishnan.

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Radhakrishnan, J., Matthew, D., Henderson, K. et al. Acute changes in arterial stiffness following exercise in healthy Caucasians and South Asians. Artery Res 13, 6–16 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2015.11.002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2015.11.002

Keywords

Artery Research

ISSN: 1876-4401

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