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Published on: December 2, 2014
Acute changes in arterial stiffness following exercise in people with metabolic syndrome
Jeyasundar Radhakrishnan1, Narasimman Swaminathan2, Natasha M Pereira2
1Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, UK.
Background:
This study aims to examine the changes in arterial stiffness immediately following sub-maximal exercise in people with metabolic syndrome.
Methods:
Ninety-four adult participants (19-80 years) with metabolic syndrome gave written consent and were measured for arterial stiffness using a SphygmoCor (SCOR-PVx, Version 8.0, Atcor Medical Private Ltd, USA) immediately before and within 5-10min after an incremental shuttle walk test. The arterial stiffness measures used were pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic pulse pressure (PP), augmentation pressure, augmentation index (AI), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) and ejection duration (ED).
Results:
There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in most of the arterial stiffness variables following exercise. Exercise capacity had a strong inverse correlation with arterial stiffness and age (p<0.01).
Conclusion:
Age influences arterial stiffness. Exercise capacity is inversely related to arterial stiffness and age in people with metabolic syndrome. Exercise induced changes in arterial stiffness measured using pulse wave analysis is an important tool that provides further evidence in studying cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome.
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