Cardiovascular health in former elite male athletes.

To increase our knowledge on the effects of previous and current physical activity on cardiovascular health, we studied a group of Finnish male former elite athletes (endurance, n = 49; power, n = 50) and their 49 age and area-matched controls, aged 64-89 years. Body mass index (BMI), fasting serum glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and ultrasonography of cardiac and carotid artery structure and function were measured. Former endurance athletes smoked less, had lower prevalence of hypertension, and had higher intensity and volume of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) than the controls. No difference was detected in cardiac or carotid artery structure and function between these groups. Former athletes performing high-intensity LTPA were slightly younger (possible selection bias), had lower BMI and waist circumference, lower use of antihypertensives, lower prevalence of diabetes, lower pulse wave velocity, and higher carotid artery elasticity than former athletes not performing high-intensity LTPA. In conclusion, former athletes had a higher intensity and volume of LTPA than the controls. Athletes performing vigorous LTPA had more elastic arteries than athletes performing moderately or no LTPA. Vigorous LTPA through the whole lifetime associates with good cardiovascular health, although the previous medical history may play an important role.

Metabolic risk factors and masked hypertension in the general population: the Finn-Home study.

The association between masked hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MS) or insulin resistance is unclear. We investigated an untreated nationwide population sample (n = 1582, age 44-74 years). Duplicate office blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken on one visit and duplicate morning and evening home measurements were taken for 7 days. Masked hypertension was defined as office BP < 140/90 mm Hg with home BP ⩾ 135/85 mm Hg. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between masked hypertension and metabolic risk factors. Age- and gender-adjusted odds ratios for metabolic disorder were 2.89 (1.87-4.47), 2.93 (2.15-3.97) and 1.68 (1.05-2.70) in white-coat hypertension, 3.39 (2.00-5.76), 3.86 (2.61-5.72) and 2.77 (1.63-4.70) in masked hypertension, and 7.38 (5.19-10.49), 6.45 (4.92-8.46) and 4.27 (3.00-6.08) in sustained hypertension using European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance, harmonised MS and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance above the 80th percentile criteria. When home BP was used to define MS, masked hypertension moved close to sustained hypertension. The association between masked hypertension and metabolic disorders was related to home BP, body mass index and waist circumference. In conclusion, home BP appears to be a useful method to assess the risk of metabolic disorder. Masked hypertensives would benefit from the use of home BP in the definition of MS.