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Impact of gender on benefits of exercise training on sympathetic nerve activity and muscle blood flow in heart failure
Author(s) -
AntunesCorrea Ligia M.,
Melo Ruth C.,
Nobre Thais S.,
Ueno Linda M.,
Franco Fabio G.M.,
Braga Ana M.W.,
Rondon Maria U.P.B.,
Brum Patricia C.,
Barretto Antonio C.P.,
Middlekauff Holly R.,
Negrao Carlos E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1093/eurjhf/hfp168
Subject(s) - medicine , microneurography , heart failure , cardiology , ejection fraction , forearm , neurovascular bundle , hemodynamics , blood flow , physical therapy , brachial artery , heart rate , blood pressure , surgery , baroreflex
Aims We compared the effects of exercise training on neurovascular control and functional capacity in men and women with chronic heart failure (HF). Methods and results Forty consecutive HF outpatients from the Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil were divided into the following four groups matched by age: men exercise‐trained ( n = 12), men untrained ( n = 10), women exercise‐trained ( n = 9), women untrained ( n = 9). Maximal exercise capacity was determined from a maximal progressive exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded directly using the technique of microneurography. There were no differences between groups in any baseline parameters. Exercise training produced a similar reduction in resting MSNA ( P = 0.2) and forearm vascular resistance ( P = 0.0003), in men and women with HF. Peak VO 2 was similarly increased in men and women with HF ( P = 0.0003) and VE/VCO 2 slope was significantly decreased in men and women with HF ( P = 0.0007). There were no significant changes in left‐ventricular ejection fraction in men and women with HF. Conclusion The benefits of exercise training on neurovascular control and functional capacity in patients with HF are independent of gender.