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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(06): 497-505
DOI: 10.1055/a-1293-8430
Physiology & Biochemistry

Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Endurance Athletes

Yuto Hashimoto 
1   Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
,
Takanobu Okamoto
2   Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes. Sixteen young male endurance-trained athletes and nine sedentary of similar age men participated in this study. Resting measures in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were obtained to assess arterial stiffness. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using 2-dimensional echocardiography. The athletes tended to have lower arterial stiffness than the controls (P=0.071). Transmitral A-waves in the athletes were significantly lower (P=0.018) than the controls, and left ventricular mass (P=0.034), transmitral E-wave/A-wave (P=0.005) and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site (P=0.005) in the athletes were significantly greater than the controls. A significant correlation was found between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function (E-wave: r=− 0.682, P=0.003, E-wave/A-wave: r=− 0.712, P=0.002, peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site: r=− 0.557, P=0.025) in the athletes, whereas no correlation was found in controls. These results suggest that lower arterial stiffness is associated with higher left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes.

Key words

pulse wave velocity - echocardiography - athlete’s heart - endurance


Publication History

Received: 07 April 2020

Accepted: 09 October 2020

Article published online:
11 November 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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