Association between resting heart rate, VO2max and carotid intima-media thickness in middle-aged men

Abstract

Introduction Low resting heart rate (RHR) and high cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max) are associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events (CV). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has been suggested as a predictor of CV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between RHR, VO 2 max and CIMT. Methods The subjects of this study were 707 males aged 40–50 who visited the National Health Center of South Korea, a health examination institution, from 2010 to 2016. RHR was measured using electrocardiogram. RHR was divided into 4 levels (<60 beats per minute; bpm, 60–69 bpm, 70–79 bpm, ≥80 bpm). VO 2 max was measured by grade exercise test. Subject's VO 2 max was divided into 3 levels (first, second and third tertiles). CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as CIMT >1 mm. Results There was no significant difference in CIMT according to RHR level and there was no correlation between RHR and CIMT. High and middle VO 2 max group had significant lower CIMT than low VO 2 max group ( P < 0.001). There was also a correlation between VO 2 max and CIMT (R = −0.129, P < 0.001). The low VO 2 max group showed 3.56-fold (95% CI, 1.77–7.16) higher relative risk of carotid atherosclerosis than the high VO 2 max group. Conclusion These results suggest that cardiovascular fitness index VO 2 max is associated to CIMT in middle-aged men. In addition, this study shows that VO 2 max are important indicators for the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness as a Correlate of Cardiovascular, Anthropometric, and Physical Risk Factors: Using the Ruffier Test as a Template

“…In the multivariable model incorporating the individual compounding factors, body weight and resting heart rate are independently associated with the estimated VO 2 max. These findings are consistent with previous studies those examined the influence of body weight [ 57 , 75 ] and resting heart rate [ 76 , 77 ] on VO 2max .…”

Temporal Skin Temperature as an Indicator of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessed with Selected Methods

“…The mechanism described above may also explain the correlations that relate T1 and VO 2 max, as well as T1 ( Table 3 ) and ΔHRR, in our study ( Table 2 ). Thus, the magnitude of the drop in temporal temperature can be used as an indicator of the level of cardiovascular fitness alongside generally accepted indicators such as maximal oxygen uptake [ 44 ] and heart rate recovery [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Alterations in Circulating MicroRNAs and the Relation of MicroRNAs to Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Intima–Media Thickness in Ultra-Marathon Runners

“…Moreover, we found a significant correlation between VO 2 max and CIMT (r = −0.576, p = 0.002). It was previously shown by Kang et al that high VO 2 max is related to a decrease in CIMT in comparison to low VO 2 max, as there was a weak correlation between VO 2 max and CIMT (r = −0.129, p < 0.001) [ 60 ]. A stronger correlation in our small cohort could be partly explained by higher VO 2 max values (60.97 ± 4.88 mL/kg/min) in comparison with the subgroup with the highest value from the Kang et al study (49.05 ± 3.47 mL/kg/min).…”