Effect of Exercise on Heart Function in Healthy Elderly People

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of aerobic interval training on left- and right ventricular diastolic- and systolic function on healthy, sedate people over 70 years. The old sedate cohort will be compared to young, sedate subjects also performing aerobic interval training and old master athletes without intervention.

Detailed Description
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Aging is associated with a reduced diastolic and systolic function of the heart. Earlier studies have shown that physical exercise can improve both systolic and diastolic function. However the impact on age-related cardiac function is to some extent conflicting. The use of different training intensities will impact on the cardiac result. We have in earlier studies shown aerobic interval training at 90 % of maximal heart rate (4x4 minutes) to have more impact on cardiac function, endothelial function and maximal oxygen uptake compared to moderate intensity. To our knowledge the effect of aerobic interval training on cardiac function has not been studied in an old, sedate group before.

Official Title
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Aerobic Interval Training Reduces and Compensates Age Related Decline in Cardiac Function

Conditions
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Diastolic Dysfunction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Aerobic interval training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: over 70 years, healthy not exercising more than twice per week Exclusion Criteria: chronic illness chronic use of any medication regular smoking metabolic or cardiovascular diseases

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Exercise intervention<br> | Other: Aerobic interval training<br>* High intensity aerobic interval training consists of 10 minutes warm up at  60% of maximal heart rate, 4x4 minutes intervals at 90-95 % of maximal heart rate corresponding to 85-90% of VO2max) walking/running uphill on a treadmill, with three minutes active pause between the exercise bouts at 60-70% maximal heart rate. The session is terminated with 3 minutes cool down. Total exercise time is 38 minutes.The training is supervised by an exercise physiologist and the subjects train 3 times per week for 12 weeks.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvement of left and right ventricular early diastolic tissue velocity at rest and sub maximal exercise ,e'. |  | 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvement of left and right ventricular systolic tissue velocity function at rest and sub maximal exercise, S'. |  | 12weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Aging, Diastolic dysfunction, Systolic function, Exercise, Echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, Cardiac function