Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Master Athletes.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Gori, Niccolo Anania, Giuseppe Stefani, Laura Boddi, Maria Galanti, Giorgio
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	Background:Carotid Intima Media Thickness (IMT) is currently used to assess the relationship between progression of coronary and systemic atherosclerosis. To date, however, the possible impact of regular physical activity (PA) on this parameter has not been well estimated.Objectives:Our study aims to examine this aspect especially in the absence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.Patients and Methods:100 master athletes (MA) and 51 sedentary controls (SC) were enrolled. They were evaluated by echo test with dedicated software (QIMT-Esaote) for IMT, and Bruce protocol and 2D echocardiography for cardiac hemodynamic parameters.Results:All values were within normal range. Left IMT mean values were significantly higher than right IMT values in both MA and SC groups (MA: IMT left 635 ± 104 µ, IMT right 614 ± 104 µ and mean IMT 624 ± 91.9 µ; SC: IMT left 633 ± 78 µ, IMT right 622 ± 90 µ and mean IMT 627 ± 78.1 µ). A positive relationship was found in both groups between IMT mean values and age (P < 0.01) and between IMT mean values and peak systolic blood pressure (MA: 0.28 R, P < 0.01; SC: 0.32 R, P < 0.05). At rest, only in MA was a significant relationship evident, between mean arterial pressure value and IMT (P < 0.01).Conclusions:In the absence of CV risk factors, only age is associated with a slight increase of wall carotid thickening. The data are indicative of a physiological increase in IMT, as a consequence of increased peak effort systolic pressure after regular PA in athletes.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC4592756&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	2008000X
Journal	Asian Journal of Sports Medicine [Asian J Sports Med]
Volume Number	6
DOI	10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.22587
PubMed Central reference number	PMC4592756
Issue Number	2
PubMed reference number	26448832
e-ISSN	20087209
Language	English
Publisher	Kowsar
Publisher Date	2015-06-20
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits copy and redistribute the material just in noncommercial usages, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2015, Sports Medicine Research Center.
Subject Keyword	Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Physical Activity, Athletes
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Sports Science