Effects of Different Exercise Training on Atrial Function in Hypertension
Effects of Different Exercise Training on Atrial Function in Hypertension
The study aim is to compare the effects produced by two different exercise training
 modalities on atrial function evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography on hypertensive
 patients with coronary artery disease. 50 males patients will be randomized to interval
 training or combined training the latter including both aerobic and resistance exercises. The
 training period will last 12 weeks. The protocol will provide two different assessment of
 atrial function: -acute: after a single session of exercise; - 12 weeks: at the end of
 exercise training protocols.
This is a prospective randomized two- arms open trial evaluating the effects of two different
 exercise training modalities on atrial function, assessed by speckle-tracking
 echocardiography, on hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease. First endpoint will
 be: between-groups comparison of exercise-induced changes on peak atrial longitudinal strain
 (PALS). Secondary endpoints will be: exercise-induced changes on diastolic function and left
 ventricular strain. We will include 50 patient with hypertension and underlying coronary
 artery disease, evaluated for entering a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients that will
 be judged suitable for the study will be randomized, with a 1:1 ratio, to interval training
 or combined training the latter including both aerobic and resistance exercises. Each patient
 will undergo three visits. At visit 1 in which patients will perform a first echocardiography
 with evaluation of the acoustic window and an ergometric test (for excluding myocardial
 ischemia and for establishing the training intensity); visit 2- acute evaluation- :patients
 will undergo an echocardiographic assessment before and within 30 minutes after a single
 exercise session (alternatively interval or combined training according to the randomization
 code). Visit 3: at 12 weeks all patient will perform a final echocardiography evaluation and
 a second ergometric test. Patients of both groups will exercise three times/week for 12
 weeks. Each exercise session will last 45 minutes
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Hypertension;

 -  Coronary artery disease;

 -  Age over 45 years;

 -  Male gender

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Secondary hypertension;

 -  Significant heart valve diseases;

 -  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;

 -  Signs and/or symptoms of myocardial ischemia during an ergometric test;

 -  Uncontrolled arrhythmia;

 -  Neurological and or orthopedic conditions contraindicating or limiting exercises;

 -  Significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV1 <50%),

 -  Symptomatic peripheral arterial disease