Sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal exercise in humans

Courtney M. Wheatley; Eric M. Snyder; Bruce D. Johnson; Thomas P. Olson

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-445

Sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal exercise in humans

Courtney M. Wheatley, Eric M. Snyder, Bruce D. Johnson, Thomas P. Olson

Kinesiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Differences in cardiovascular function between sexes have been documented at rest and maximal exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal constant-load exercise, which is not well understood.

Thirty-one male and 33 female subjects completed nine minutes moderate and nine minutes vigorous intensity submaximal exercise (40 and 75% of peak watts determined by maximal exercise test). Measurements included: intra-arterial blood pressure (SBP and DBP), cardiac index (Q_I), heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO₂) and arterial catecholamines (epinephrine = EPI and norepinephrine = NE), and blood gases. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume index (SV_I), systemic vascular resistance index (SVR_I), arterial oxygen content (CaO₂), arterial to venous O₂ difference (AVO₂) and systemic oxygen transport (SOT) were calculated.

This study demonstrates sex differences in the cardiovascular response to constant-load submaximal exercise. Specifically, females presented limitations in cardiac performance in which they are unable to compensate for reductions in stroke volume through increases in HR, potentially a consequence of a female’s blunted sympathetic response and higher vasodilatory state. Females demonstrated greater cardiac work needed to meet the same external work demand, and relied on increased peripheral oxygen extraction, lower energy expenditure and improvements in mechanical efficiency as compensatory mechanisms.

At rest and during submaximal exercise Q_I, SV_I, SBP, MAP, NE, CaO₂, and SOT were lower in females compared to males. VO₂, AVO₂, EPI were lower in females throughout exercise. When corrected for wattage, females had a higher Q, HR, SV, VO₂ and AVO₂ despite lower energy expenditure and higher mechanical efficiency.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	445
Journal	SpringerPlus
Volume	3
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-445
State	Published - 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Kathy O’Malley, Chris Johnson, and Shelly Roberts for their assistance with data collection. We also thank the participants for their effort. This work was supported by grant numbers HL71478 (BDJ) and 1KL2RR024151 (TPO) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grant number 56051Z (EMS) from the American Heart Association. We also thank the staff of the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) for their assistance throughout this study. The Mayo Clinic CRU is supported by grant number 1UL1RR024150 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Wheatley et al.; licensee Springer.

Keywords

Arterial pressure
Cardiac output
Catecholamines
Energy expenditure
Systemic vascular resistance

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Sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal exercise in humans

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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