Racial Differences in Left Ventricular Filling Pressure Following Acute Aerobic Exercise Between Chinese and Caucasians

Background: Left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is an important early indicator of heart failure that is more prevalent in Caucasians than Chinese. Exercise-induced change in LVFP may provide more incremental information to assess diastolic function. But it was unknown whether there was difference in LVFP following acute exercise between Caucasians and Chinese. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of LVFP following an acute 45-min aerobic exercise in healthy Caucasian and Chinese individuals. Methods: Sixty participants (30 Caucasians and 30 Chinese, half was male, respectively) performed an acute bout of aerobic exercise at 70% of heart rate reserve. Hemodynamics, Left ventricle (LV) morphology and function parameters were measured at baseline, then at 30-min and 60-min post-exercise. Results: There was a similar LV ejection fraction, LV fraction shorten, lateral E/eʹ and lateral eʹ between Chinese and Caucasians at baseline. There was a significant race-by-time interaction in lateral E/eʹ and lateral eʹ between Chinese and Caucasians from pre-exercise to 30 min and 60 min after acute aerobic exercise. The ΔE/eʹ was significant correlated with baseline systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The change of LVFP was different between Chinese and Caucasians following acute aerobic exercise. The racial differences may be primarily caused by the changes of LV relaxation following exercise, baseline systolic blood pressure may also contribute to the differences.