Haemodynamic parameters in postmenopausal women - beneficial effect of moderate continuous exercise training

Physical effort plays a positive role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiovascular status in postmenopausal women after several years of regular amateur training.

A total of 55 generally healthy females aged 50-70 years, of whom 38 were members of a senior exercise group and 17 comprised a control group, were enrolled in the study. Parameters of blood flow, vascular resistance, myocardial contractility and thoracic fluid content were measured in a 10-minute supine resting test by impedance cardiography. Thereafter, central blood pressure, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity were measured by applanation tonometry.

Exercising women have a better outcome than the control group, when evaluated both with impedance cardiography and with applanation tonometry. They have a lower heart rate - HR (65.1 vs 71.5; p = 0.033), higher blood flow (stroke index - SI, 58.6 vs 50.3; p = 0.040), better myocardial contractility (acceleration index - ACI, 108.8 vs 88.1; p = 0.027), higher preload (thoracic fluid content index - TFCI, 20.5 vs 18.1; p = 0.002), lower afterload (systemic vascular resistance index - SVRI, 1972.9 vs 2110.5; p = 0.026), lower central systolic blood pressure - cBPsys (119.0 vs 129.5; p = 0.037), lower augmentation pressure - AP (10.3 vs 15.0; p = 0.044) and lower pulse wave velocity - PWV (7.4 vs 8.4; p = 0.001).

Regular moderate continuous aerobic exercise training has a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system in postmenopausal women.