CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ACUTE AEROBIC PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN PATIENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME: A PILOT STUDY

Introduction: Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) shows poor aerobic capacity and reduced vascular reserve, evaluated immediately after exercise. However, vascular and hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness indices during acute exercise have not been studied. To evaluate the effects of acute aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx@75) and to relate biochemical and vascular parameters with these indices. Method: This is a quasi-experimental study, evolving 10 individuals of both sexes with DS (21.9±8.49 years). The arterial stiffness, vascular and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated by the Mobil-O-Graph® monitor. Assessments were carried out at rest, during aerobic exercise with 50 to 60% of maximal heart rate (HRmax), and cool-down period. Results: The cardiovascular parameters evaluated during acute exercise and the cool-down period, did not change in relation to baseline. Heart rate increased during exercise but did not return to basal levels in the cool- down period. The AIx@75 was positively correlated with insulin (p=0.02, r=0.74) and HOMA IR values (p=0.03, r=0.71). AIx@75 was negatively correlated with pulse pressure amplification (p=0.04, r=-0.66) and positively with the reflection coefficient (p=0.01, r=0.75). PWV was positively correlated with central (p=0.02, r=0.73) and peripheral systolic blood pressure (p=0.03, r=0.67). Conclusion: This study is the first to assess vascular and hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness indices during aerobic acute exercise. These parameters did not change during and after exercise compared, suggesting attenuation of the vascular response. Furthermore, we demonstrate that AIx@75 was positively correlated with insulin resistance parameters.