Cardiac remodeling after six weeks of high-intensity interval training to exhaustion in endurance-trained males

Abstract

Keywords: high-intensity interval training, endurance-trained individuals, ambulatory blood pressure, left atrium, right ventricle Table of contents category: CardiovascularRunning title: High-intensity exercise training and the heart Key points:• High-intensity interval training improves physical performance of endurance athletes, although studies examining its cardiovascular effects are sparse.• We evaluated the impact of submaximal (85% maximal aerobic power) and supramaximal (115% maximal aerobic power) high-intensity interval training on ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac cavities size and function in endurance-trained adults.• Irrespective of training intensity, six weeks of high-intensity interval training increase left atrial volumes in endurance-trained adults, whereas the submaximal training decreases right ventricular systolic function.• These results may help identify the exercise threshold for potential toxicity of intense exercise training for at-risk individuals and ideal exercise training regimens conferring optimal cardiovascular protection and adapted endurance training for athletes. ABSTRACTHigh-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves physical performance of endurance athletes, although studies examining its cardiovascular effects are sparse. We evaluated the impact of HIIT on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac cavities size and function in endurance-trained adults. Seventeen endurance-trained males underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Doppler echocardiography at baseline and after 6 weeks of HIIT.Participants were divided in 2 groups (85% maximal aerobic power (MP); HIIT85, n=8 and 115% MP; HIIT115 , n = 9) in order to compare the impact of different HIIT intensities. ABPM and cardiac chambers size and function were similar between groups at baseline. HIIT reduced heart rate (55 ± 8 vs. 51 ± 7 bpm; p= 0.003), systolic blood pressure (SBP; 121 ± 11 vs 118 ± 9 mmHg; p = 0.01), mean arterial pressure (MAP; 90 ± 8 vs 89 ± 6 mmHg; p = 0.03) and pulse pressure (52 ± 6 vs 49 ± 5 mmHg; p = 0.01), irrespective of training intensity. Left atrium (LA) volumes increased after HIIT (maximal: 50 ± 14 vs 54 ±14 ml; p= 0.02; minimal: 15 ± 5 vs 20 ± 8 ml; p = 0.01) in both groups. Right ventricle (RV) global longitudinal strain lowered after training in the HIIT85 group only (20 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 3%, p = 0.04). In endurance-trained males, six weeks of HIIT reduce SBP and MAP and increase LA volumes irrespective of training intensity, whereas submaximal HIIT deteriorates RV systolic function.

Atrial fibrillation: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and prevention of thromboembolic complications: part 1

“…It should be noted that in endurance-trained men, HITT resulted in left atrial enlargement. The extent of LA dimensional remodeling in highly trained athletes may be relevant, and absolute LA size can overlap atrial dilation observed in patients with cardiac disease (129). This implies, but does not prove, the potential to develop AF.…”