title: Aerobic interval training compensates age related decline in cardiac function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of aerobic interval training (AIT) on myocardial function in sedentary seniors compared to master athletes (MA) and young controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen seniors (72 ± 1 years, 10 men) performed AIT (4 × 4 minutes) at ≈ 90% of maximal heart rate three times per week for 12 weeks. Results were compared with 11 male MA (74 ± 2 years) and 10 young males (23 ± 2 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seniors had an impaired diastolic function compared to the young at rest. AIT improved resting diastolic parameters, increased E/A ratio (44%, p <0.01), early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (e') (11%, p <0.05) and e' during exercise (11%, p <0.01), shortened isovolumic relaxation rate (IVRT) (13%, p <0.01). Left ventricle (LV) systolic function (S') was unaffected at rest, whereas S' during stress echo increased by 29% (p <0.01). Right ventricle (RV) S' and RV fractional area change (RFAC) increased (9%, p <0.01, 12%, p =0.01, respectively), but not RV e'. MA had the highest end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, diastolic reserve and RV S'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIT partly reversed the impaired age related diastolic function in healthy seniors at rest, improved LV diastolic and systolic function during exercise as well as RV S' at rest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. haraldedvard@gmail.com
authors.forename: Harald Edvard
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Molmen
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisloff
authors.forename: Inger Lise
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Aamot
authors.forename: Asbjorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoylen
authors.forename: Charlotte Bjork
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ingul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009664:Norway; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right; D055815:Young Adult