What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Healthy athletes (n=559). Intervention: Age and endurance exercise training. Primary outcome: Maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (Vmax-AoDesc).

What does this research mean for the field?

In healthy athletes without aortic coarctation, the upper limit of normal for maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta is 2.00 m/s, with higher velocities primarily predicted by younger age and greater endurance training volume. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study evaluates the normal range and predictors of maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta in healthy athletes.

June 7, 2026Journal of Clinical MedicineOpen Access

Young age predicts higher descending aortic velocity in athletes, with a 2.00 m/s upper normal limit.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Athletic haemodynamic adaptations in the descending aorta could influence the diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta, warranting evaluation of the normal range and predictors of Vmax-AoDesc.

Population

559 asymptomatic healthy athletes aged at least 12 years with a tricuspid aortic valve

Design

Observational cohort study

Key result

Young age was the strongest predictor of higher maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (β = -0.392, p<0.001) in healthy athletes, which had an upper normal limit of 2.00 m/s.

Authors

GCGeorgios A. Christou DKDimitrios N. Kiortsis

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May inform age-specific aortic flow norms in athletes; leaves open validation for coarctation differentiation.

Key Points

This study evaluates the normal range and predictors of maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta in healthy athletes.
Examination of 559 asymptomatic athletes aged 12 years and older with a tricuspid aortic valve.
Measurements included blood pressure, cardiac and aorta ultrasonography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Forty athletes were reassessed after a median follow-up of 3.0 years.
The median maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta was 1.29 m/s, with a maximum of 2.00 m/s.
Age, systolic blood pressure, and stroke volume were significant independent predictors of the maximum velocity.
Adjusting for predictors showed a reduction in maximum velocity during follow-up, suggesting age-related changes.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=559)

Structured PICO

Population

559 asymptomatic healthy athletes aged ≥12 years with a tricuspid aortic valve, with a subset of 40 reassessed after a median follow-up of 3.0 years.

Outcome

Normal range for the maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (Vmax-AoDesc) and its predictorssurrogate

In healthy athletes, the upper limit of normal for maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta is 2.00 m/s, with younger age being the strongest predictor of higher velocities.

Cite This Study

Christou et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Healthy athletes (n=559). Age and endurance exercise training was evaluated on Maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (Vmax-AoDesc). Young age was the strongest predictor of higher maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (β = -0.392, p<0.001) in healthy athletes, which had an upper normal limit of 2.00 m/s.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a250ce97def13d035e1d2b7 https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114378

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

June 7, 2026Journal of Clinical MedicineOpen Access

Young age predicts higher descending aortic velocity in athletes, with a 2.00 m/s upper normal limit.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Athletic haemodynamic adaptations in the descending aorta could influence the diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta, warranting evaluation of the normal range and predictors of Vmax-AoDesc.

Population

559 asymptomatic healthy athletes aged at least 12 years with a tricuspid aortic valve

Design

Observational cohort study

Key result

Young age was the strongest predictor of higher maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (β = -0.392, p<0.001) in healthy athletes, which had an upper normal limit of 2.00 m/s.

Authors

GCGeorgios A. Christou DKDimitrios N. Kiortsis

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May inform age-specific aortic flow norms in athletes; leaves open validation for coarctation differentiation.

Key Points

This study evaluates the normal range and predictors of maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta in healthy athletes.
Examination of 559 asymptomatic athletes aged 12 years and older with a tricuspid aortic valve.
Measurements included blood pressure, cardiac and aorta ultrasonography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Forty athletes were reassessed after a median follow-up of 3.0 years.
The median maximum blood flow velocity in the descending aorta was 1.29 m/s, with a maximum of 2.00 m/s.
Age, systolic blood pressure, and stroke volume were significant independent predictors of the maximum velocity.
Adjusting for predictors showed a reduction in maximum velocity during follow-up, suggesting age-related changes.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=559)

Structured PICO

Population

559 asymptomatic healthy athletes aged ≥12 years with a tricuspid aortic valve, with a subset of 40 reassessed after a median follow-up of 3.0 years.

Outcome

Normal range for the maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta (Vmax-AoDesc) and its predictorssurrogate

In healthy athletes, the upper limit of normal for maximum velocity of blood flow in the descending aorta is 2.00 m/s, with younger age being the strongest predictor of higher velocities.

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a250ce97def13d035e1d2b7 https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114378

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark