Physical Activity Is Associated With Arterial Stiffness In Post-myocardial Infarction Patients With Elevated Blood Pressure

Abstract

Taking into account the risk associated with an increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness, it seems to be of particular relevance to look for possible associations with physical activity. PURPOSE: To analyze whether regular physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness were correlated with arterial stiffness in post-myocardial infarction patients presenting blood pressure above the normal range despite being on medication. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 44 consecutive patients (age, 61.2±9.4 yrs; BMI, 27.5±3.5 kg/m2, 8 females) with systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure higher ≥85 mm Hg, despite receiving the recommended medication, were assessed 6 weeks after suffering an acute myocardial infarction, for clinical variables, anthropometrics, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial stiffness. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured using a digital automatic blood pressure monitor. Physical activity was objectively measured during 7 consecutive days using an accelerometer. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed with an ergospirometry device to measure the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during a maximal or symptom-limited treadmill exercise test (modified Bruce protocol). Arterial stiffness was evaluated using measures of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and central and peripheral pulse pressure (PP) and augmentation index adjusted to heart rate at 75 bpm ([email protected]). RESULTS: Moderate to vigorous physical activity showed a positive association with VO2peak (r=0.548, p<0.001) and [email protected] (r=0.473, p=0.002), and a negative association with cf-PWV (r=-0.351, p=0.031). cf-PWV was positively associated with systolic blood pressure (r=.427, p=0.005) and inversely associated with VO2peak (r=-0.472, p=0.002). In addition, cf-PWV was significantly lower in the patients with lower blood pressure (systolic 130-130 mm Hg) compared with those who higher values (systolic ≥140 mm Hg) (8.7±2.1 m/s vs. 10.2±2.5 m/s, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that moderate to vigorous physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with arterial stiffness in post-myocardial infarction patients with blood pressure above the normal range despite being on medication.