Effects of –3.7α Deletion and Sickle-Cell Trait on Ventilatory and Hemodynamic Responses to Maximum Exercise in Young Saudi Females

Abstract

Lubna Ibrahim Al Asoom,1 Marwah Mansour Al Makhaita,1 Nazish Rafique,1 Dina Tariq Al Afandi,2 Waad Mohammed Al Otaibi,3 Hind Saleh Alsuwat,3 Mousa A Alaithan,3 Sayed AbdulAzeez,3 J Francis Borgio3 1Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Depatment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Lubna Ibrahim Al AsoomDepartment of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaEmail [email protected]: Hemoglobinopathies are common disorders in Saudi Arabia and have an impact on the general health of the affected individuals. The current study aimed to find out the effects of the presence of α 3.7 kb rightward deletion or sickle-cell trait (SCT) on ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters of maximum exercise testing in young Saudi women.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 75 randomly selected female students from different colleges were tested for VO2max using a COSMED system for maximum exercise testing. Blood parameters and globin genotyping were determined.Results: Hemoglobin genetic studies revealed 28 of the students had 3.7 α-globin deletion only (− 3.7α2/α1α2), five had SCT, and 42 had normal α-globin (α1α2/α1α2 and no HbS) and were considered the control group. Subjects with − 3.7α2/α1α2 showed significantly lower VO2max and higher resting systolic blood pressure, while SCT carriers showed no difference in regard to ventilatory parameters, but had higher post-exercise systolic blood pressure than controls.Conclusion: It is concluded that individuals with 3.7 α-globin deletion might have lower fitness capacity, as demonstrated by lower VO2max, which might explain the general lower VO2max in the young women of this population. Furthermore, increments in resting systolic and posteexercise systolic blood pressure in 3.7 α-globin deletion and SCT, respectively, might indicate a future risk of cardiovascular diseases and require attention and extensive studies.Keywords: cardiopulmonary exercise testing, exercise test, α-globin, sickle-cell trait, blood pressure, Saudi Arabia

Keywords

• cardiopulmonary exercise testing
• exercise test
• α-globin
• sickle cell trait
• blood pressure
• saudi arabia.