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Training for a first-time marathon reverses vascular ageing
Authors : A Bhuva (London,GB), A D'silva (London,GB), C Torlasco (Milan,IT), S Jones (London,GB), N Nadarajan (London,GB), J Van Zalen (London,GB), R Boubertakh (London,GB), N Chaturvedi (London,GB), G Lloyd (London,GB), S Sharma (London,GB), JC Moon (London,GB), AD Hughes (London,GB), CH Manisty (London,GB)
A Bhuva1
,
A D'silva2
,
C Torlasco3
,
S Jones1
,
N Nadarajan1
,
J Van Zalen4
,
R Boubertakh4
,
N Chaturvedi1
,
G Lloyd4
,
S Sharma2
,
JC Moon4
,
AD Hughes1
,
CH Manisty4
,
1University College London, Institute of Cardiovasular Science - London - United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
,
2St George's University of London, Cardiology Clinical & Academic Group - London - United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
,
3San Luca Hospital of Milan - Milan - Italy
,
4Barts Heart Centre - London - United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
,
Topic(s): Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Flow Imaging
Background: Ageing is strongly associated with aortic stiffening, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk even in healthy individuals. Aortic stiffness is reduced in lifelong athletes, but whether training in novice runners can modify this process remains unclear.
Purpose: To assess the impact of first-time marathon training on age-related increases in aortic stiffness.
Methods: Untrained healthy volunteers were recruited prior to starting training for the London Marathon. Assessment pre-training and two weeks post-marathon included central (aortic) BP (cBP), and phase contrast 1.5T CMR in the ascending (Ao-A) and descending thoracic aorta at two levels (pulmonary artery bifurcation and diaphragm – Ao-P and Ao-D). Aortic distensibility and beta-stiffness (ß, a pressure-independent measure) were measured and correlated with chronological age at baseline to derive biological aortic age before and after training. Data are mean changes (95% confidence intervals).
Results: The cohort comprised 139 first-time marathon completers (age range 21-69 years, 50% male). As expected, increasing age decade was associated with decreasing distensibility by 2.3, 1.9 and 3.1 x10-3mmHg-1 for the Ao-A, Ao-P, and Ao-D respectively (partial r=0.4-0.5), Figure.
Training decreased cSBP and cDBP by 4(2.5-5.3) and 3mmHg(1.6-3.6), Table. With training, descending aortic distensibility increased at both Ao-P and Ao-D levels (by 9%,p=0.009 and 17%,p=0.001), whilst unchanged in the ascending aorta. This translated to a reduction in biological aortic age at Ao-P by 3.9(1.1-7.5) and Ao-D 4.5years(1.8-8.2). ß decreased by 7% at the Ao-D level,p=0.02. Participants with slower marathon running times (Ao-P partial r:-0.20,p<0.05), and older age (Figure) showed a greater increase in descending aortic distensibility with training.
Conclusions: Training for and completing a marathon improves central blood pressure and aortic stiffness even in novice athletes. These changes are the equivalent to a ~4-year reduction in vascular age. These benefits were greatest in older, less fit individuals.
ESC Professional Members, Association Members (Ivory & above) benefit from year-round access to all the resources from their respective Association, and to all content from previous years. Fellows of the ESC (FESC), and professionals in training or under 40 years old, who subscribed to a Young Combined Membership package benefit from access to all ESC 365 content from all events, all editions, all year long. Find out more about ESC Memberships here.