Acute changes in arterial stiffness following exercise in healthy Caucasians and South Asians

Background Arterial stiffness and exercise capacity are independent predictors of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to establish the acute changes in arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry following sub-maximal exercise in Caucasians and South Asians. This study also aims to establish the relationship between exercise capacity and arterial stiffness. Methods In total, 69 participants including 37 Caucasians and 32 South Asians were assessed for arterial stiffness non-invasively using SpygmoCor (SCOR-PVx, Version 8.0, AtCor Medical Inc North America, USA) before and after an exercise test using the Bruce protocol on a treadmill and by measuring aerobic capacity using a metabolic analyser (Medical Graphics, Cardio Control, Minnesota, USA). Results Significant increases in arterial stiffness variables were observed including augmentation pressure, subendocardial viability ratio, ejection duration, pulse pressure, augmentation index and mean arterial pressure following exercise in both ethnic groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in these increases between the ethnic groups (p > 0.05). There was no change in pulse wave velocity (p > 0.05). Exercise capacity was inversely related to arterial stiffness (P < 0.05). Conclusion There are no differences in arterial stiffness at the baseline and following acute exercise between Caucasians and South Asians. There was significant increase in arterial stiffness following exercise in both groups. Exercise capacity is inversely related to arterial stiffness. The results suggest that non invasive arterial stiffness could be used as a tool to measure acute changes following exercise