RESTING METABOLIC RATE IS RELATED TO DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OLDER CLAUDICATION PATIENTS 1171

Abstract

Physical inactivity is related to a reduction in resting metabolic rate(RMR) in healthy older adults. Patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) may be particularly susceptible to a reduced RMR because disabling leg claudication pain limits physical activity. The purposes of this study were to examine whether lower RMR was associated with reduced levels of daily physical activity in older PAOD patients, and whether this relationship persisted after controlling for fat free mass. We examined 56 PAOD patients with claudication who were 66.7 ± 7.5 yr of age (mean ± SD), with a resting ankle/brachial systolic pressure index of 0.60 ± 0.18. Patients were measured on the following variables: RMR using a ventilated hood, daily physical activity using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) questionnaire, and body composition using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Patients were heterogeneous with respect to RMR (1577± 312 kcal/day), LTPA (179 ± 190 kcal/day), body mass (75.4± 14.8 kg), percent body fat (28.4 ± 7.3%), and fat free mass(52.6 ± 8.6 kg). LTPA significantly correlated with RMR in PAOD patients (r = 0.35, p < 0.05), and this relationship persisted even after statistically controlling for fat free mass (r = 0.27, p < 0.057). In conclusion, lower RMR is associated with reduced levels of daily physical activity in PAOD patients, and that this relationship is independent of fat free mass.