Acute Effects of Moderate Continuous Training on Stress Test-Related Pulse Pressure and Wave Reflection in Healthy Men.
BACKGROUND
Arterial dysfunction develops early in life even in individuals with modest cardiovascular risk. Stress is associated with increased risk in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


OBJECTIVE
The main objectives of this study were to investigate the acute effects of moderate continuous training (MCT) on established markers of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk during standardized cold pressor stress testing (CPT).


METHODS
29 young healthy male subjects (33.7 ± 8 years, BMI 24 ± 2 kg/m2) performed a 60-min period of moderate upright bicycle exercise with 65% of maximum heart rate. Before (t0), 45 (t45) as well as 60 (t60) min after exercise peripheral pulse pressure (PP) as well as augmentation index at a set heart rate (AIx@75) were assessed non-invasively at rest using an oscillometric device. Immediately after t0 and t60 PP and AIx@75 were registered at the end of a 2 min CPT.


RESULTS
PP (p = 0.005) and AIx@75 (p = 0.04) were reduced below pre-exercise level at t60. In contrast to CPT before exercise, there were significant reductions in PP (p = 0.039) as well as AIx@75 (p = 0.002) during CPT after exercise. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between maximal oxygen consumption and AIx@75 (r = -0.42, p = 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute MCT decreased PP and reduces AIx@75 after 60 min of recovery. Furthermore, PP and AIx@75 showed reduced values after completion of MCT indicating attenuated hemodynamic response to stress testing after MCT. Moreover, higher physical conditioning status was associated with more favorable effects on stress test-related arterial compliance.
Programmbereich Epidemiologie, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. milatzfl@gmail.com.|Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. milatzfl@gmail.com.
Florian
F
Milatz
Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.|Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, von-Seckendorff-Platz 2, 06120, Halle, Germany.
Sascha
S
Ketelhut
Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.|Medical Center Berlin (MCB), Perleberger Str. 51, 10559, Berlin, Germany.|Abteilung Sportmedizin, Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Reinhard G
RG
Ketelhut
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009991:Oscillometry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
Aerobic exercise; Arterial compliance; Augmentation index; Cold pressor test; Maximal oxygen consumption