Aerobic interval training compensates age related decline in cardiac function

Abstract

Objectives. To study the effect of aerobic interval training (AIT) on myocardial function in sedentary seniors compared to master athletes (MA) and young controls. Design. Sixteen seniors (72± 1 years, 10 men) performed AIT (4 × 4 minutes) at ∼90% of maximal heart rate three times per week for 12 weeks. Results were compared with 11 male MA (74± 2 years) and 10 young males (23±2 years). Results. Seniors had an impaired diastolic function compared to the young at rest. AIT improved resting diastolic parameters, increased E/A ratio (44%, p <0.01), early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (e′) (11%, p <0.05) and e′ during exercise (11%, p <0.01), shortened isovolumic relaxation rate (IVRT) (13%, p <0.01). Left ventricle (LV) systolic function (S′) was unaffected at rest, whereas S′ during stress echo increased by 29% (p <0.01). Right ventricle (RV) S′ and RV fractional area change (RFAC) increased (9%, p <0.01, 12%, p =0.01, respectively), but not RV e′. MA had the highest end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, diastolic reserve and RV S′. Conclusion. AIT partly reversed the impaired age related diastolic function in healthy seniors at rest, improved LV diastolic and systolic function during exercise as well as RV S′ at rest.

Key words::

• aging
• exercise echocardiography
• exercise training
• right ventricular function
• left ventricular function

Acknowledgements

CBI is recipient of research grant from the Norwegian Research Council, through the center for research based innovation, MI-Lab, Trondheim, Norway. The study was supported by grants from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (CBI), Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Norwegian Research Council Funding for Outstanding Young Investigators (UW) and Foundation for Cardiovascular Research at St. Olav's Hospital (AS, UW), K.G. Jebsen Foundation (UW) and by EXTRA funds from the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation and The Norwegian Heart and Lung Patient Organization.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.