# Vascular, physical fitness, lifestyle, and body composition characteristics in middle-aged and older diver fishermen: association between shear rate and lower-limb physical fitness

## TL;DR

This study examines vascular and physical fitness traits in middle-aged and older diver fishermen, finding that lower-limb fitness correlates with vascular shear rates.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel association between vascular shear rates and lower-limb physical fitness in diver fishermen.

## Key findings

- Middle-aged diver fishermen showed better upper and lower-limb physical fitness compared to older fishermen.
- Lower-limb fitness, measured by the Ruffier test, was significantly associated with vascular shear rates in both brachial and carotid arteries.

## Abstract

First, to describe the vascular, physical fitness, lifestyle, and body composition characteristics of middle-aged and older adult diver fishermen. Second, to associate vascular outcomes with physical fitness (upper and lower limbs).

A descriptive pilot study was performed in middle-aged [MA-DF, n = 11, body mass index (BMI) 29.9 ± 4.9, mean arterial pressure (MAP) 103.9 ± 6.2 mmHg] and older (OA-DF, n = 11, BMI 28.5 ± 2.7, MAP 111.8 ± 9.6 mmHg) adult diver fishermen. In each group, brachial (BA) and common carotid artery (CCA) diameter (D
BA; D
CCA), peak systolic (PSVBA; PSVCCA), end-diastolic velocity (EDVBA; EDVCCA), shear rate (SRBA; SRCCA), resistance index (RIBA; RICCA), pulsatility index (PIBA; PICCA), Reynolds number (ReBA; ReCCA), handgrip strength right (HGSRA), left (HGSLA), and average (HGSAV) and lower-limb fitness (Ruffier test) were the main outcomes, while other types of information, including vascular ankle-brachial index, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima average and maximum, augmentation index, body composition (segmental and total parameters by dual-X-ray absorptiometry), and lifestyle, were secondary outcomes.

There were no vascular, body composition, or lifestyle differences between groups. The MA-DF group showed superior upper- (HGSRA 48.1 ± 6.2 kg vs. 39.8 ± 6.4 kg; HGSLA 46.7 ± 5.9 kg vs. 39.5 ± 6.3 kg, both P < 0.05) and lower-limb fitness (Ruffier test 23.2 ± 5.3 repetitions vs. 15.5 ± 2.4 repetitions, p = 0.0006) vs. the OA-DF group. Significant associations were found between SRBA and the Ruffier test (p = 0.003) and between SRCCA and the Ruffier test (p = 0.042).

Despite similar vascular, lifestyle, and body composition profiles, middle-aged and older diver fishermen displayed marked differences in upper- and lower-limb physical fitness. Importantly, lower-limb physical fitness, as assessed by the Ruffier test, emerged as a robust correlation of vascular shear rate (SR) in both the BA and CCA, highlighting its potential relevance to peripheral and central vascular function.