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Acute Effects of Moderate Continuous Training on Stress Test-Related Pulse Pressure and Wave Reflection in Healthy Men

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Abstract

Introduction

Arterial dysfunction develops early in life even in individuals with modest cardiovascular risk. Stress is associated with increased risk in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Aim

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.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants without whom this study would not have been possible. This work has been funded by Takeda Pharma Company, Berlin, Germany, who provided the monitoring device.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programmbereich Epidemiologie, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Florian Milatz

  2. Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Florian Milatz, Sascha Ketelhut & Reinhard G. Ketelhut

  3. Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, von-Seckendorff-Platz 2, 06120, Halle, Germany

    Sascha Ketelhut

  4. Medical Center Berlin (MCB), Perleberger Str. 51, 10559, Berlin, Germany

    Reinhard G. Ketelhut

  5. Abteilung Sportmedizin, Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Reinhard G. Ketelhut

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  1. Florian Milatz
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Correspondence to Florian Milatz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Milatz, F., Ketelhut, S. & Ketelhut, R.G. Acute Effects of Moderate Continuous Training on Stress Test-Related Pulse Pressure and Wave Reflection in Healthy Men. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 24, 61–67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-017-0180-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-017-0180-9

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