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Influence of fitness and age on the endothelial response to acute inflammation.

Elizabeth C LeffertsAbbi D Lane-CordovaSushant M RanadiveTracy BaynardBo Fernhall
Published in: Experimental physiology (2019)
Inflammation is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular events and reduced vascular function with ageing. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events and better vascular function. We evaluated the role of fitness in the vascular response to acute inflammation in 26 younger adults (YA) and 62 older adults (OA). We used an influenza vaccine to induce acute inflammation. Blood pressure, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), augmentation index, carotid elastic modulus and inflammatory markers were measured before and 24 h after vaccination. Peak oxygen uptake was measured via a treadmill test. 'Fit' was defined as a peak oxygen uptake greater than the age- and sex-determined 50th percentile according to the American College of Sports Medicine. An interaction effect existed for the FMD response during acute inflammation (P < 0.05). The YA (low fit, from 11.5 ± 1.8 to 9.2 ± 1.3%; moderately fit, from 11.9 ± 0.8 to 9.0 ± 0.8%) and moderately fit OA (from 7.5 ± 1.0 to 3.9 ± 0.8%) had similar reductions in FMD at 24 h (P < 0.05). Low-fit OA did not reduce FMD at 24 h (from 5.5 ± 0.4 to 5.2 ± 0.5%, P > 0.05). The reduction in FMD in YA was similar between fitness groups (P > 0.05). All groups had similar reductions in mean arterial pressure and increases in inflammatory markers. The augmentation index and carotid elastic modulus did not change during acute inflammation. In conclusion, in OA, higher fitness is associated with a greater decrease in endothelial function during acute inflammation, and this response is similar to that of young adults. This suggests that moderately fit OA may maintain vascular reactivity in response to stress, indicating preserved vascular function in moderately fit versus low-fit OA.
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