INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The association between cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2)max) and carot id atherosclerosis was analyzed in 163 men, aged 50 to 60 years, VO(2) max was assessed using breath-by-breath respiratory gas analyses durin g maximal exercise stress test. Atherosclerosis was evaluated quantita tively as intima-media thickness (IMT) of the right and left carotid a rteries by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, Mean VO(2)max was 2 9.6 ml/kg per min (95%CI 28.7;30.5), common carotid IMT 1.04 mm (95%CI 1.01;1.07) and carotid bifurcation IMT 1.73 mm (95%CI 1.66;1.81). VO( 2)max correlated inversely with carotid bifurcation IMT (r = -0.31, P < 0.001), but not with common carotid IMT (r = -0.13, P=0.102). Men in the highest quartile of VO(2)max had lower (P < 0.001) bifurcation IM T 1.51 mm (95%CI 1.41;1.61) than men in the lowest (1.95 mm (95%CI 1.7 5;2.16)) and in the second lowest VO(2)max quartile (1.79 mm (1.63; 1. 95)). The difference persisted (P = 0.014) after controlling for age, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, saturated fat intake, curren t health status and exercise-induced ST-segment depression. These data suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness is an important independent pr edictor of carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged men.