Edinburgh Napier University

  PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the Ireland and the EU and kills more people than all cancers combined. It accounts for 55% of all deaths in women across Europe and 43% of all deaths in men. The cost to the EU economy is 169 billion euro/year. Endothelial dysfunction induced by cardiovascular risk factors is considered to be one of the earliest stages in vascular damage and is associated independently with cardiovascular events. The balance between endothelial lesion and regeneration is critical for the maintenance of vessel integrity. Exposure to cardiovascular risk factors alters the homeostatic regulatory functions of the endothelium, subsequently progressing to pro-inflammatory activation, apoptosis, and undesirable vessel remodelling. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of self-regulated exercise intensity on endothelial function in men with coronary artery disease.

METHODS: Eight men with coronary artery disease (65.7 ± 4.5 yr, VO2max 18.6 ± 4.1 ml/kg/min, BMI 29.7±3.3 kg/m-2) underwent 20 min of treadmill walking at a self-regulated intensity. Endothelial dependent dilation of the brachial artery was assessed before and 1 h following the acute bout of exercise. Vessel diameter was determined using high resolution vascular ultrasonography (SonoSite, MicroMaxx) from flow mediated dilation (FMD) following 5 min of forearm occlusion. Endothelial independent vasodilation was measured at min 3, min 4 and min 5 following the administration of glyceryl trinitrate (0.4 mg).

RESULTS: The subjects self-selected an average treadmill walking speed of 5.3 km/h and a grade of 0.7%. This intensity equated to 65.7% VO2max, and an RPE-O of 12.0. Compared to baseline, FMD was significantly increased (1 min (4.6 v 10.7%) and 3 min (6.2 v 11.0) post occlusion) at 60 min following the acute bout of self-regulated exercise. There was no change in endothelial independent dilation in response to the acute bout of exercise.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate a beneficial effect of self regulated exercise on endothelial dependent vascular function in men with coronary artery disease.