Cardiac benefits of endurance training: 40 years old is not too late to start
Matelot D, Schnell F, Ridard C, et al.
EuroPrevent Amsterdam - Netherlands 09 May 2014
Purpose. To evaluate if the age at which endurance training has been started alters cardiovascular parameters in healthy senior men (HSM).
Methods. We compared 40 HSM (55-70 years old) without known cardiovascular risk factor: 10 have never practiced for more than 2 hours of training per week during their lives (NT), 30 trained >5 hours a week since >5 years in cycling or running and have started before 30 (T30, n=16) or after 40 years old (T40, n=14). Maximal exercise test, echocardiography at rest and during submaximal exercise, and heart rate (HR) variability analysis during 5 min supine were performed.
Results. T30 and T40 have been training continuously during 40.8±5.0 and 18.2±6.1 years (p<0.001), since the age of 22.1±5.4 and 47.9±7.3 years old (p<0.001), respectively. Resting HR (58.1±10 bpm for T30, 60.6±6.9 bpm for T40, and 69.7±9.3 bpm for NT) only differed between NT and both trained groups (p<0.05). Maximal oxygen uptake was 46.6±6.9 ml/min/kg, 43.4±4.5 ml/min/kg (NS) and 32.9±4.3 ml/min/kg (p<0.001 vs. both trained groups) for T30, T40, and NT, respectively. Maximal HR did not differ beyond the three groups. Left ventricle (LV) and both atria were bigger in T30 and T40 than in NT (p<0.01). Furthermore, NT exhibited thicker walls than T30 and T40 (p<0.05). Thus, cardiac remodelling seems different between both trained groups and NT subjects. Concerning diastolic function, mitral flow showed diastolic dysfunction (E < A) in 44%, 50%, and 80% of subjects in T30, T40 and NT, respectively, even if E/e’ was normal in all groups (6.3±1.2, 6.8±1.8, and 9.0±5.7 in T30, T40, and NT, respectively). Thus, diastolic function seems better in T30 and T40 than in NT at rest. During exercise, no difference was noted between the three groups. No difference was observed for systolic function, neither LV ejection fraction nor LV global longitudinal strain differed beyond the groups, at rest or during exercise. HR variability analysis showed higher high frequency variability in T30 and T40 vs. NT (p<0.05). LF/HF ratios were 2.2±1.5, 2.2±1.0 (NS), and 4.1±3.1 (p<0.05 with T30) in T30, T40, and NT, respectively. Thus, sympathovagal balance seems different in both trained groups vs. NT.
Conclusion. Regardless of the age at which it has been started, relatively intensive endurance training presents the same benefits on heart and its regulation by autonomic nervous system in healthy senior men.
Compte-rendu de la conférence : 40 is not too old or too late to start endurance training