title: Vascular Function and Structure in Veteran Athletes after Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: Although athletes demonstrate lower cardiovascular risk and superior vascular function compared with sedentary peers, they are not exempted from cardiac events (i.e., myocardial infarction [MI]). The presence of an MI is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and impaired vascular function. We tested the hypothesis that lifelong exercise training in post-MI athletes, similar as in healthy controls, is associated with a superior peripheral vascular function and structure compared with a sedentary lifestyle in post-MI individuals.
  
  
  
  We included 18 veteran athletes (ATH) (>20 yr) and 18 sedentary controls (SED). To understand the effect of lifelong exercise training after MI, we included 20 veteran post-MI athletes (ATH + MI) and 19 sedentary post-MI controls (SED + MI). Participants underwent comprehensive assessment using vascular ultrasound (vascular stiffness, intima-media thickness, and endothelium (in)dependent mediated dilatation). Lifetime risk score was calculated for a 30-yr risk prediction of cardiovascular disease mortality of the participants.
  
  
  
  ATH demonstrated a lower vascular stiffness and smaller femoral intima-media thickness compared with SED. Vascular function and structure did not differ between ATH + MI and SED + MI. ATH (4.0% ± 5.1%) and ATH + MI (6.1% ± 3.7%) had a significantly better lifetime risk score compared with their sedentary peers (SED: 6.9% ± 3.7% and SED + MI: 9.3% ± 4.8%). ATH + MI had no secondary events versus two recurrent MI and six elective percutaneous coronary interventions within SED + MI (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Although veteran post-MI athletes did not have a superior peripheral vascular function and structure compared with their sedentary post-MI peers, benefits of lifelong exercise training in veteran post-MI athletes relate to a better cardiovascular risk profile and lower occurrence of secondary events.
authors.affiliation: 1Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, THE NETHERLANDS; 2Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM; and 3Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, THE NETHERLANDS.
authors.forename: Martijn F H
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Maessen
authors.forename: Thijs M H
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Eijsvogels
authors.forename: Bregina T P
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hijmans-Kersten
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grotens
authors.forename: Tim H A
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.forename: Maria T E
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D010809:Physical Fitness; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult