Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of lifetime physical activity (PA) on selected indices of atherosclerosis in longitudinal observation of middle-aged men.MethodsThe subject of the study was a cohort of 101 men (mean age 59,7±9,0 years), free of cardiovascular symptoms and treatment, participating in follow-up examinations in the years 1985/90-2011/12. Self-report PA was assessed by interviewer-administered Seven-Day PA Recall and Historical PA questionnaire. Subclinical atherosclerosis was measured by assessing the coronary artery calcification (CAC) according to Agatston's method using multi-slice computed tomography; the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound; and the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT2000). The participants were initially divided into three groups according to tertiles of exercise-related energy expenditure (EE) in kcal/week at baseline, i.e. <2050 (low-to-moderate; n = 33), 2050–3840 (high; n = 34), >3840 (very high; n = 34).ResultsThe low-to-moderate, high and very high PA groups were comparable in terms of age and atherosclerosis risk factors at baseline. No linear relationship was found between PA and CAC, IMT and RHI. Men who maintained low-to-moderate (n = 26), high (n = 21) and very high (n = 15) PA level had the mean CAC of 286.1±361.9, 10.7±28.9, and 106.1±278.3 (p<0.001 for low-to moderate vs high; p<0.05 for low-to-moderate vs very high); the mean IMT of 0.751±0.19 mm, 0,641±0.26 mm, and 0.750±0.60 mm (p>0.05); and the mean RHI of 1.69±0.4, 2.00±0.4, and 2.13±0.5 (p for trend = 0.050), respectively. No cases of CAC>400, IMT ≥0.9 and RHI<1.67 were noted only among men with maintained high PA level. At final examination men with high and very high PA had more favorable cardiometabolic profile than men with lower PA.ConclusionsMaintaining regular high PA level through young and middle adulthood may protect against atherosclerosis as measured by CAC, IMT and RHI.
Highlights
There is convincing body of evidence on the independent role of physical activity (PA) in primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [1,2,3,4]
Except for triglycerides (p for trend,0.05) and PA characteristics the three studied groups were comparable according to the analyzed variables at baseline
No statistical differences were found in the family history of CVD and the mean age of participants at final examination
Summary
There is convincing body of evidence on the independent role of physical activity (PA) in primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [1,2,3,4]. Reduced CVD morbidity and mortality in physically active individuals has been repeatedly shown to be associated with beneficial effects on major risk factors including lipid disorders, hypertension, diabetes or obesity [5,6]. Data on the relationship between PA and subclinical atherosclerosis are scarce. Used measures of the presence and extent of subclinical atherosclerosis are coronary artery calcification (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)[7,8]. It is probable that observed heterogeneity of the obtained findings result from different methodology including various socioeconomic groups of participants, different domains of PA measured as well as PA assessment techniques. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of lifetime physical activity (PA) on selected indices of atherosclerosis in longitudinal observation of middle-aged men
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