Improved Left Ventricular Diastolic Function with Exercise Training in Hypertension : A Doppler Imaging Study

Abstract EN

Objective.

To study the effects of 6 months’ exercise training on ventricular function in hypertensive patients.

Methods.

Both groups received routine anti-hypertensive pharmacological therapy and one received a 6 months’ exercise program in addition.

All patients underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test and echocardiography in baseline and after 6 months.

Results.

(1) In 6 months’ follow-up, PeakVO2, Powermax (max workload), AT (anaerobic threshold), VO2AT (VO2 at anaerobic threshold), tAT (time from beginning to anaerobic threshold) (P<.05), were increased in the exercise group.

HRrest (Heart rate at rest) was decreased (P<.05).

LAVI (left atrial volume index), peak mitral filling velocities during early (E) and late (A) diastole E/A ratio, DT(deceleration time of the mitral E wave), IVST(Interventricular septum thickness in diastole), tissue Doppler indice Mean Ea/Aa ratio (P<.05) were also improved.

(2) Correlation analysis: 4 variates had significant effect on change of PeakVO2 in the exercise group: age (r=-0.39), change of HRrest (r=0.59), change of E/A (r=0.55), change of Mean Ea/Aa (r=0.58); Through analyzing 2 groups patients’ baseline values, their age (β= -0.32), VO2AT (β= 0.29), HRrest (β= -0.25), LAVI (β= -0.24), E/A (β= 0.41) were found to be independent predictors of MeanEa/Aa.

P-value under .05 was considered statistically significant.

Conclusion.

6 months’ exercise could enhance hypertensive patients’ aerobic exercise level and diastolic function to a certain extent.