Carotid artery wall mechanics in young males with high cardiorespiratory fitness

Pugh, Christopher J. A., Stone, Keeron J. ORCID: 0000-0001-6572-7874, Stöhr, Eric J., McDonnell, Barry J., Thompson, Jane E. S., Talbot, Jack S., Wakeham, Denis J., Cockcroft, John and Shave, Robert (2018) Carotid artery wall mechanics in young males with high cardiorespiratory fitness. Experimental Physiology, 103 (9). pp. 1277-1286. doi:10.1113/EP087067

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Abstract

The influence of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on arterial stiffness in young adults remains equivocal. Beyond conventional measures of arterial stiffness, 2D strain imaging of the common carotid artery (CCA) provides novel information related to the intrinsic properties of the arterial wall. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of CRF on both conventional indices of CCA stiffness and 2D strain parameters, at rest and following a bout of aerobic exercise in young healthy males. Short‐axis ultrasound images of the CCA were recorded in 34 healthy men [22 years (95%CI, 19–22)] before, and immediately after 5‐minutes of aerobic exercise (40% VO2max). Images were analysed for arterial diameter, peak circumferential strain (PCS), and peak systolic and diastolic strain rates (S‐SR, D‐SR). Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were simultaneously assessed and Petersons' elastic modulus (Ep) and Beta stiffness (β1) were calculated. Participants were separated post hoc into moderate and high fitness groups [VO2max: 48.9 ml.kg‐1 min‐1 (95%CI, 44.7–53.2) vs. 65.6 ml.kg‐1 min‐1 (95%CI, 63.1–68.1); P < 0.001]. Ep and β1 were similar between groups at baseline (P > 0.13) but were elevated in the moderate‐fitness group post‐exercise (P < 0.04). PCS and S‐SR were elevated in the high‐fitness group at both time‐points [3.0% (95%CI = 1.2, 4.9); P = 0.002; 0.401/s (95%CI = 0.085, 0.72); P = 0.02, respectively]. No group differences were observed in diameter, HR, SBP, DBP or D‐SR throughout the protocol (P > 0.05). High‐fit individuals exhibit elevated CCA PCS and S‐SR, which may reflect training‐induced adaptations that help to buffer the rise in pulse‐pressure and stroke volume during exercise.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Pugh, Christopher J. A., Stone, Keeron J., Stöhr, Eric J., McDonnell, Barry J., Thompson, Jane E. S., Talbot, Jack S., Wakeham, Denis J., Cockcroft, John and Shave, Robert (2018) Carotid artery wall mechanics in young males with high cardiorespiratory fitness. Experimental Physiology, 103 (9). pp. 1277-1286., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1113/EP087067. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2D strain imaging; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Carotid artery stiffness; Exercise
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Susan Turner
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2018 09:21
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:08
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/5769

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