Key points from article :
Older male athletes could be at higher risk of heart and circulatory diseases than female competitors of a similar age.
Older male athletes had a stiffer aorta and was 9.6 years older than their chronological age.
Studied over 300 ‘masters’ athletes (half male and half female) - those over 40 who had participated in over 10 endurance events and had exercised regularly for at least 10 years.
Heart MRI scans were used to study the stiffness of the athlete’s aorta – the largest artery.
Also investigated the vascular age of different sections of the aorta.
For male athletes, it was 15 years older than their chronological age. But for female athletes, it was six years younger.
Dr. Rebecca Hughes, lead researcher said, “In non-athletes, aortic stiffening is associated with heart and circulatory diseases. How this finding applies to potential risk in athletes is not yet fully understood".
Researchers from the University College London (UCL) carried out the study and presented it at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester.
