Aortic but not peripheral pulse wave velocity is improved after Heart Rate targeted aerobic physical training in metabolic syndrome subjects

Objective: To evaluate the response of aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness parameters to heart rate (HR) targeted exercise training in metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects. Methods: This cohort study included 170 individuals with MS (mean age 53.3 ± 6.9 years, 55% women). The subjects were recruited using a 1:1 random sampling method and divided into intervention aerobic physical training (aPT) and control groups. Intervention group subjects participated in a 2-month duration HR targeted aPT programme. Subjects in both groups were investigated at baseline and after 2 months. Arterial stiffness parameters, such as aortic carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), peripheral carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV) and aortic augmentation index, mean blood pressure in the aorta (MBP) were evaluated. Results: After 2 months of aPT aortic stiffness decreased indicated by the reduction of cfPWV by 0.54 m/s (6.33 %, p0.05). Using a regression tree method the highest improvement of arterial wall after aPT was achieved when initial cfPWV was >10.1 m/s (-2.31 ± 1.15 m/s) and cut-off value for positive effect was 8.6 m/s. Conclusions: After 2 months of aPT arterial stiffness improved only in reduction of cfPWV and MBP. Therefore, it would be reasonable to measure cfPWV rather than crPWV in order to evaluate the aPT effect on arterial wall function in MS patients.