title: Aerobic exercise training does not modify large-artery compliance in isolated systolic hypertension.
abstract: The present study characterized large-artery properties in patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) and determined the efficacy of exercise training in modifying these properties. Twenty patients (10 male and 10 female) with stage I ISH and 20 age- and gender-matched control subjects were recruited, and large-artery properties were assessed noninvasively. Ten ISH patients (5 male and 5 female) were enrolled in a randomized crossover study comparing 8 weeks of moderate intensity cycling with 8 weeks of sedentary activity. Brachial and carotid systolic, diastolic, mean, and pulse pressures were higher in the ISH group than in the control group. Systemic arterial compliance (0.43+/-0.04 versus 0.29+/-0.02 arbitrary compliance units for the control versus ISH groups, respectively; P=0.01) was lower, and carotid-to-femoral pulse-wave velocity (9.67+/-0.36 versus 11.43+/-0.51 m. s(-1) for the control versus ISH groups, respectively; P=0.007), input impedance (2.39+/-0.19 versus 3.27+/-0.34 mm Hg. s. cm(-1) for the control versus ISH groups, respectively; P=0.04), and characteristic impedance (1.67+/-0.17 versus 2.34+/-0.27 mm Hg. s. cm(-1) for the control versus ISH groups, respectively; P=0.05) were higher in the ISH group than in the control group. Training increased maximal oxygen consumption by 13+/-5% (P=0.04) and maximum workload by 8+/-4% (P=0.05); however, there was no effect on arterial mechanical properties, blood lipids, or left ventricular mass or function. These results suggest that the large-artery stiffening associated with ISH is resistant to modification through short-term aerobic training.
authors.affiliation: Alfred and Baker Medical Unit, Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ferrier
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gatzka
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kingwell
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D003187:Compliance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013599:Systole