INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON CARDIAC RISK FACTOR PROFILE AND ECG FINDINGS IN MIDDLE-AGED MEN 437

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of physical activity on the cardiac risk factor profile in middle-aged men over a period of 10 years. 129 men aged between 40 and 49 years were examined and followed up after 10 years (age: 53.6 ± 2.6 years). The experimental design consisted of history and physical examination, radiologic heart volume measurement, analysis of relevant laboratory values and cycle ergometry in supine position until subjective exhaustion. During the first and second examination the subjects with higher physical activity (>3h/week) showed significantly (p<0.01) higher physical fitness (3.06 ± 0.44 resp. 2.65 ± 0.44) compared to the inactive subjects (2.56 ± 0.35 W/kg resp. 2.10 ± 0.35 W/kg). The same findings (p<0.01) applied to the heart volume (active: 11.91 ± 1.59 resp. 11.59 ± 1.37 ml/kg; inactive: 10.89 ± 1.15 ml/kg resp. 10.70 ± 1.32 ml/kg). Fat metabolism and blood pressure were in a better range among the active persons. The rate of smokers was lower among the active group during baseline (18.9 vs. 28.6%) as well as follow-up examination (8.6 vs. 22.2%). The active subjects showed a significantly lower incidence of pathological ECG findings compared to the inactive group during the first examination (35.7 vs. 16.2%). With reference to the second examination the rate of pathological ECG findings increased substantially but there was no significant difference between the active and inactive group (57.1 vs. 55.6%). These data suggest that physical activity has positive effects on physical fitness and cardiovascular risk factor profile. Independent of the amount of physical activity a substantial increase of pathological ECG findings with increasing age could be demonstrated. A possible explanation could be the higher sensitivity of the exercise ECG among the active persons who achieved a higher maximal cardiocirculatory strain during cycle ergometry (heart rate: 162.4 ± 16.7 vs. 155.7 ± 19.0 min-1).