Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Endurance Athletes

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes. Sixteen young male endurance-trained athletes and nine sedentary of similar age men participated in this study. Resting measures in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were obtained to assess arterial stiffness. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using 2-dimensional echocardiography. The athletes tended to have lower arterial stiffness than the controls (P=0.071). Transmitral A-waves in the athletes were significantly lower (P=0.018) than the controls, and left ventricular mass (P=0.034), transmitral E-wave/A-wave (P=0.005) and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site (P=0.005) in the athletes were significantly greater than the controls. A significant correlation was found between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function (E-wave: r=− 0.682, P=0.003, E-wave/A-wave: r=− 0.712, P=0.002, peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site: r=− 0.557, P=0.025) in the athletes, whereas no correlation was found in controls. These results suggest that lower arterial stiffness is associated with higher left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes.

Peripheral Arterial Stiffness is Associated with Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Athletes

“…However, endurance-trained athletes have higher LV diastolic function than untrained individuals, and during incremental workloads, the stroke volume of athletes increases progressively to the maximum with no plateau 50 . In addition, we have previously reported a negative correlation between aortic stiffness and LV function 8 . Maintaining low arterial stiffness may thus reduce the workload on the left ventricle during high-intensity exercise (i. e., increase in stroke volume), which may be beneficial for V̇O 2 max.…”

“…The systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle influence stroke volume. LV diastolic function and maximal volume are associated with V ̇O2 max [35,36], and we have previously reported that cfPWV in endurance athletes correlated with LV diastolic function [8]. Suppression of afterload may also reduce the increase in workload of the LV myocardium (reducing the energy cost of contraction), which may improve the capacity for longer or more intense myocardial contractions during exercise [37].…”

“…V ̇O2 , rate of carbon dioxide excretion (V ̇CO 2 ), and respiratory exchange ratio (V ̇CO 2 /V ̇O2 ) were monitored breathby-breath using a metabolic measurement cart (AE-310S; Minato Medical Science Co., Osaka, Japan). V ̇O2 max was defined as the highest 30-s averaged oxygen uptake, concurrent with a respiratory exchange ratio > 1.10 [8].…”

“…Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a standard measure of arterial stiffness, and endurance training is a well-known factor in decreasing central and peripheral PWV 7 . We have previously demonstrated that lower carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) is associated with higher left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, and lower central arterial stiffness increases stroke volume in young endurance-trained athletes 8 . Such findings suggest that cfPWV may be related to V̇O 2 max in endurance athletes.…”

Visceral fat might impact left ventricular remodeling through changes in arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

“…Our study also found that patients with BMI ≥ 27.5 cm 2 had a higher prevalence of CH than normal weight patients. Several other studies [13,31,32] found that arterial stiffness influences cardiac structure and function. Our study confirmed that baPWV was correlated with LVRM and E/A, even independent of hypertension.…”