Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis among men with hypertension

Sae Young Jae, Mercedes R. Carnethon, Kevin S. Heffernan, Yoon Ho Choi, Moon Kyu Lee, Bo Fernhall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and may represent hypertension-related target organ damage. Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive men. We tested the hypothesis that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are inversely associated with the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional study of 2532 (53.2 ± 8.5 years old) hypertensive men. Methods: Men with hypertension (defined as systolic over diastolic blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg or self-reported use of antihypertensive medication) underwent maximal exercise treadmill testing with expired gas analysis. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as stenosis of >25% and/or intima-media thickness of >1.2 mm using B-mode ultrasonography. Results: The overall prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was 13.4%. The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was inversely associated with cardiorespiratory fitness category (low 22.5%, moderate 10.9%, and high 8.7%; P < .001 for trend). After adjusting for established risk factors, high and moderate fitness were associated with lower odds ratios for having carotid atherosclerosis, 0.63 (95% CI 0.47-0.85) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.41-0.92), respectively, compared with low fitness. Each metabolic equivalent increment higher peak oxygen uptake was associated with 11% (odds ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.97) lower prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusions: These results suggest that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are inversely associated with the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1001-1005
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Heart Journal
Volume153
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2007

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