Tijs Louwies1, Luc Int Panis2, Toon Alders3, Kim Bonné3, Nandu Goswami4, Tim S Nawrot5, Paul Dendale6, Patrick De Boever7. 1. Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. 2. Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Transportation Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. 3. Revalidatie- en gezondheidscentrum, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium. 4. Otto Loewi Research Center of Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. 5. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium. 6. Revalidatie- en gezondheidscentrum, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. 7. Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: patrick.deboever@vito.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exercise-based rehabilitation improves general cardiovascular fitness. The impact on the microvascular system has been studied in less detail. We measured changes in retinal blood vessel diameters, as a proxy for microvascular reactivity, in cardiac patients and we assessed the impact of a rehabilitation program on retinal vessel diameters. DESIGN: Cardiac patients (n = 78) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 32) performed an initial maximal endurance cycling test. Patients then participated in a 12-week rehabilitation program with additional endurance tests being performed six and twelve weeks after the initial test. METHODS: Fundus images were collected immediately before and 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after the endurance test. Widths of retinal blood vessels, represented as Central Retinal Arteriolar/Venular Equivalent (CRAE/CRVE) were calculated from the images. RESULTS: At the start of the rehabilitation program, CRAE and CRVE values of the patients changed immediately after the endurance test with respectively -1.90 μm (95% CI: -3.58; -0.22) and -5.32 μm (95% CI: -7.33; -3.30) compared to baseline values. In contrast, CRAE and CRVE values of healthy controls were respectively increased [3.52 μm (95% CI: 2.34; 4.69)] and decreased [-3.17 μm (95% CI: -5.27; -1.07)]. After six and twelve weeks, CRAE responses of patients immediately after endurance test increased respectively with 5.98 μm (95% CI: 4.25; 7.71) and 4.44 μm (95% CI: 3.18; 5.71). These responses were similar to the microvascular reactions observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Arteriolar and venular retinal microvascular responses in cardiac patients were different from the ones of healthy controls. Retinal microvascular response of cardiac patients improved during rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND: Exercise-based rehabilitation improves general cardiovascular fitness. The impact on the microvascular system has been studied in less detail. We measured changes in retinal blood vessel diameters, as a proxy for microvascular reactivity, in cardiac patients and we assessed the impact of a rehabilitation program on retinal vessel diameters. DESIGN: Cardiac patients (n = 78) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 32) performed an initial maximal endurance cycling test. Patients then participated in a 12-week rehabilitation program with additional endurance tests being performed six and twelve weeks after the initial test. METHODS: Fundus images were collected immediately before and 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after the endurance test. Widths of retinal blood vessels, represented as Central Retinal Arteriolar/Venular Equivalent (CRAE/CRVE) were calculated from the images. RESULTS: At the start of the rehabilitation program, CRAE and CRVE values of the patients changed immediately after the endurance test with respectively -1.90 μm (95% CI: -3.58; -0.22) and -5.32 μm (95% CI: -7.33; -3.30) compared to baseline values. In contrast, CRAE and CRVE values of healthy controls were respectively increased [3.52 μm (95% CI: 2.34; 4.69)] and decreased [-3.17 μm (95% CI: -5.27; -1.07)]. After six and twelve weeks, CRAE responses of patients immediately after endurance test increased respectively with 5.98 μm (95% CI: 4.25; 7.71) and 4.44 μm (95% CI: 3.18; 5.71). These responses were similar to the microvascular reactions observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Arteriolar and venular retinal microvascular responses in cardiac patients were different from the ones of healthy controls. Retinal microvascular response of cardiac patients improved during rehabilitation.
Authors: Anouk W Vaes; Martijn A Spruit; Karel Van Keer; João Barbosa-Breda; Emiel F M Wouters; Frits M E Franssen; Jan Theunis; Patrick De Boever Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-01-08 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Dejan Dinevski; Miha Lučovnik; Ivan Žebeljan; Domen Guzelj; Izidora Vesenjak Dinevski; Adam Salon; Patrick De Boever; Nandu Goswami Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2022-07-21