Heart rate recovery after orthostatic challenge and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in older individuals: prospective multicentre observational cohort study.

Background: Impaired vagal function in older individuals, quantified by the 'gold standard' delayed heart rate recovery after maximal exercise (HRR), is an independent predictor of cardiorespiratory capacity and mortality (particularly when HRR ≤12 beats min). Heart rate also often declines after orthostatic challenge (HRR), but the mechanism remains unclear. We tested whether HRR reflects similar vagal autonomic characteristics as HRR.

Exploring the Correlation and Protective Role of Diabetes Mellitus in Aortic Aneurysm Disease.

Diabetes mellitus is recognised as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, as the abnormal metabolic state increases the risk for atherosclerosis, occlusive arterial disease and vascular dysfunction. There have been reports of potential association across the literature that illustrates a link between diabetes mellitus and aortic aneurysm, with the former having a protective role on the development of the latter. A thorough literature search was performed through electronic databases, to provide a comprehensive review of the study's reporting on the association of diabetes mellitus and aortic aneurysm, discussing the mechanisms that have been reported; furthemore, we reviewed the reports of the impact of oral hypoglycameic agents on aortic aneurysms.