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Left atrial mechanics and aortic stiffness following high intensity interval training: a randomised controlled study

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Abstract

Purpose

High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve important health parameters, including aerobic capacity, blood pressure, cardiac autonomic modulation and left ventricular (LV) mechanics. However, adaptations in left atrial (LA) mechanics and aortic stiffness remain unclear.

Methods

Forty-one physically inactive males and females were recruited. Participants were randomised to either a 4-week HIIT intervention (n = 21) or 4-week control period (n = 20). The HIIT protocol consisted of 3 × 30-s maximal cycle ergometer sprints with a resistance of 7.5% body weight, interspersed with 2-min of active unloaded recovery, three times per week. Speckle tracking imaging of the LA and M-Mode tracing of the aorta was performed pre and post HIIT and control period.

Results

Following HIIT, there was significant improvement in LA mechanics, including LA reservoir (13.9 ± 13.4%, p = 0.033), LA conduit (8.9 ± 11.2%, p = 0.023) and LA contractile (5 ± 4.5%, p = 0.044) mechanics compared to the control condition. In addition, aortic distensibility (2.1 ± 2.7 cm2 dyn−1 103, p = 0.031) and aortic stiffness index (− 2.6 ± 4.6, p = 0.041) were improved compared to the control condition. In stepwise linear regression analysis, aortic distensibility change was significantly associated with LA stiffness change R2 of 0.613 (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

A short-term programme of HIIT was associated with a significant improvement in LA mechanics and aortic stiffness. These adaptations may have important health implications and contribute to the improved LV diastolic and systolic mechanics, aerobic capacity and blood pressure previously documented following HIIT.

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Abbreviations

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

BP:

Blood pressure

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

dBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

HIIT:

High intensity interval training

IVSd:

Interventricular septal diameter diastole

LA:

Left atrial

LV:

Left ventricle

mBP:

Mean blood pressure

MPI:

Myocardial performance index

NO:

Nitric oxide

PALS:

Peak atrial longitudinal strain

PA:

Physical activity

PWd:

Posterior wall thickness diastole

ROI:

Region of interest

sBP:

Systolic blood pressure

VSM:

Vascular smooth muscle

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the participants for their participation in the study.

Funding

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK

    Navazh Jalaludeen, Omar Mukhtar, Joseph Cheriyan & Ian B. Wilkinson

  2. School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, CT1 1QU, UK

    Samuel J. Bull, Katrina A. Taylor, Jonathan D. Wiles, Damian A. Coleman, Lucinda Howland & Jamie M. O’Driscoll

  3. Department of Cardiology, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, UK

    Rajan Sharma & Jamie M. O’Driscoll

Authors
  1. Navazh Jalaludeen
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  2. Samuel J. Bull
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  4. Jonathan D. Wiles
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  5. Damian A. Coleman
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  6. Lucinda Howland
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  8. Joseph Cheriyan
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  11. Jamie M. O’Driscoll
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Contributions

JO’D, NJ, JDW and RS conception and design of research; JO’D, NJ, SB, and KAT performed experiments; JO’D, NJ, SB, KAT, and DC analysed data; JO’D, NJ, SB, KAT, JDW, DAC, LH, OM, JC, IBW, and RS interpreted results of experiments; JO’D prepared figures; JO’D, NJ, SB, KAT, JDW, DAC, LH, OM, JC, IBW, and RS drafted manuscript; JO’D, NJ, SB, KAT, JDW, DAC, LH, OM, JC, IBW, and RS edited and revised manuscript; JO’D, NJ, SB, KAT, JDW, DAC, LH, OM, JC, IBW, and RS approved final version of manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jamie M. O’Driscoll.

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Communicated by I. Mark Olfert.

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Jalaludeen, N., Bull, S.J., Taylor, K.A. et al. Left atrial mechanics and aortic stiffness following high intensity interval training: a randomised controlled study. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1855–1864 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04416-3

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