Age-related change in peak oxygen uptake and change of cardiovascular risk factors. The HUNT Study

Jon Magne Letnes,Håvard Dalen,Stian Thoresen Aspenes,Øyvind Salvesen,Ulrik Wisløff,Bjarne Martens Nes

doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2020.09.002

Abstract

BackgroundLarge longitudinal studies on change in directly measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is lacking, and its significance for change of cardiovascular risk factors is uncertain. We aimed to assess ten-year change in VO2peak and the influence of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and the association between change in VO2peak and change in cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and resultsA healthy general population sample had their VO2peak directly measured in two (n = 1431) surveys of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3; 2006–2008 and HUNT4; 2017–19).Average ten-year decline in VO2peak was non-linear and progressed from 3% in the third to about 20% in the eight decade in life and was more pronounced in men. The fit linear mixed models including an additional 2,933 observations from subjects participating only in HUNT3 showed similar age-related decline. Self-reported adherence to LTPA recommendations was associated with better maintenance of VO2peak, with intensity seemingly more important than minutes of LTPA with higher age. Adjusted linear regression analyses showed that one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO2peak was associated with favorable changes of individual cardiovascular risk factors (all p ≤ 0.002). Using logistic regression one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO2peak was associated with lower adjusted odds ratio of hypertension (0.95 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98), dyslipidemia (0.92 95% CI 0.89 to 0.94), and metabolic syndrome (0.86 95% CI 0.83 to 0.90) at follow-up. ConclusionsAlthough VO2peak declines progressively with age, performing LTPA and especially high-intensity LTPA is associated with less decline. Maintaining VO2peak is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile.

Highlights

Large longitudinal studies on change in directly measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is lacking, and its significance for change of cardiovascular risk factors is uncertain
Few other studies have examined the concurrent change of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but another investigation from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study showed how change in CRF was associated with change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), LDL- and total-cholesterol, and triglycerides, while only the association with HDL-cholesterol was significant after adjustment for weight change.[23]
They showed that the effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) on CVD risk factors was mediated by Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak)

Summary

Introduction

Large longitudinal studies on change in directly measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is lacking, and its significance for change of cardiovascular risk factors is uncertain. Self-reported adherence to LTPA recommendations was associated with better maintenance of VO2peak, with intensity seemingly more important than minutes of LTPA with higher age. Adjusted linear regression analyses showed that one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO2peak was associated with favorable changes of individual cardiovascular risk factors (all p ≤ 0.002). Using logistic regression one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO2peak was associated with lower adjusted odds ratio of hypertension (0.95 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98), dyslipidemia (0.92 95% CI 0.89 to 0.94), and metabolic syndrome (0.86 95% CI 0.83 to 0.90) at follow-up. Conclusions: VO2peak declines progressively with age, performing LTPA and especially high-intensity LTPA is associated with less decline. Maintaining VO2peak is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion