EFFECTS OF AGE, PHYSICAL-TRAINING, AND PHYSICAL-FITNESS ON CORONARY HEART-DISEASE RISK-FACTORS IN OLDER TRACK ATHLETES AT 20-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

OBJECTIVE: To compare current coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor values in older athletes with mid-life measures and to examine the as sociations between changes in CHD risk factors with aging, physical tr aining, and physical fitness. DESIGN: Prospective study with three lon gitudinal evaluation points: initial (T1), 10-year (T2), and 20-year ( T3). Subjects were selected because of their elite status in Masters t rade competition. SETTING: University and medical center laboratories PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 60 to 92 pears of age and included 21 of the initial 27 subjects. At T3, subjects were divided into three gr oups, based on physical activity levels: high intensity (H), remained elite in national and international competition (n = 9); moderate inte nsity (M) continued frequent rigorous endurance training but rarely co mpeted (n = 10); and low intensity (L) greatly reduced their training volume and intensity (n = 2). MEASUREMENTS: Smoking history; family hi story of coronary or cerebrovascular disease; resting blood pressure; resting electrocardiogram (ECG); serum total cholesterol, plasma gluco se; body weight, % body fat, body mass index, waist:hip ratio; trainin g pace and mileage; maximal oxygen consumption VO2 max). MAIN RESULTS: Several risk factors (smoking, diabetes, obesity) were never present, and the prevalence of other risk factors (family history of cardiovas cular disease, abnormal resting ECG) remained low through T3 (less tha n or equal to 14% of subjects). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pres sure remained low without medication, but diastolic blood pressure mea surements had the greatest redistribution between evaluation Periods o f any risk factor (r = .16, P = .479, T1 to T2). Mean total cholestero l was lower at T2 (-13%, P = .005) and T3 (-14%, P = .019) compared wi th T1. Change in (V) over dot O-2 max was correlated with changes in b ody weight (r = -.44, P = .048) and % fat (r = -.52, P = .015) from T1 to T2, whereas age was correlated to changes in systolic blood pressu re (r = -.61, P = .003) and total cholesterol (r = -.49, P = .023) fro m T2 to T3. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CHD risk factors remained l ow, and mean risk factor values remained low and generally stable in o lder athletes who had maintained habitual exercise training.