Association between aerobic capacity and carotid-cardiac baroreflex responsiveness in women

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the positive correlation between carotid-cardiac baroreflex responsiveness and aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) that has been reported in men also occurs in women. Carotid-cardiac baroreflex responsiveness was tested in 40 healthy, normotensive women (age 18-35) using the variable neck pressure technique. Participants were subdivided into endurance-trained (ET; n = 11) and untrained (UT; n = 9) groups. No significant between-group difference was found in the range or gain of the carotid-cardiac baroreflex response despite a lower resting HR in the ET group. When participants were subdivided into high (HI; n = 13) and low (LO; n = 17) responders based on reflex RRI responses to CTP changes, no significant between-group differences were found in resting HR or VO(2)max levels. It was concluded that aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) is not a good predictor of cardiac-carotid baroreflex responsiveness in healthy women.