The effect of lifelong exercise frequency on arterial stiffness.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional study comparing observational cohort categories of lifelong exercise frequency
PubMed 29781119 · doi:10.1113/JP275301
What was done
A cross-sectional examination was performed on 102 seniors aged over 60 years who had a consistent lifelong exercise history of more than 25 years. Participants were stratified into four groups based on weekly exercise frequency (sessions lasting more than 30 minutes): sedentary (fewer than 2 sessions per week), casual exercisers (2 to 3 sessions per week), committed exercisers (4 to 5 sessions per week), and Masters athletes (6 to 7 sessions per week plus regular competitions). Measures collected included biological aortic age, central pulse wave velocity, total arterial compliance index, carotid beta-stiffness index, effective arterial elastance, and peripheral arterial stiffness.
What was found
The abstract reports directional findings without numerical values or confidence intervals. Biological aortic age and central pulse wave velocity were lower (younger) in committed exercisers and Masters athletes compared to sedentary seniors. Total arterial compliance index was lower, while carotid beta-stiffness index and effective arterial elastance were higher in sedentary seniors compared to other groups, showing a dose-response threshold for carotid beta-stiffness index and total arterial compliance index. Peripheral arterial stiffness did not differ significantly among the groups.
Why it matters
This study suggests that maintaining central arterial compliance in older age may require 4 to 5 exercise sessions per week over a lifetime, whereas 2 to 3 sessions per week may only be sufficient to preserve middle-sized carotid artery compliance.
Limits
This is a cross-sectional study subject to selection bias and retrospective recall of lifelong exercise habits. The sample size is modest (n = 102 across four groups), and the abstract presents no exact numerical measurements, standard deviations, effect sizes, or p-values. Unmeasured confounding lifestyle factors (such as diet, blood pressure history, and genetics) cannot be ruled out.
Cited by
- supports An observational study by Dr. Ben Levine showed that exercising 1 to 2 days per week provided no protection against heart aging compared to sedentary adults, 4 to 5 days provided significant cardiovascular protection, and 5 to 6 days provided nearly complete protection comparable to Masters athletes.