Left ventricular structure and diastolic function with human ageing: Relation to habitual exercise and arterial stiffness

We sought to determine if attenuation of the age-associated increase in arterial stiffness by habitual aerobic-endurance exercise would have corresponding effects on left ventricular (LV) structure and diastolic function. We performed a cross-sectional study on 138 young, middle-aged, and older men who were either sedentary, recreationally active, or endurance exercise-trained. Ageing was associated with increased large artery stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity) and habitual aerobic-endurance exercise was associated with decreased large artery stiffness (lower aortic pulse wave velocity; all P