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Higher levels of daily physical activity are associated with better skin microvascular function in type 2 diabetes—The Maastricht Study
Author(s) -
Sörensen Ben M.,
Heide Frank C.T.,
Houben Alfons J.H.M.,
Koster Annemarie,
T.J.M. Berendschot Tos,
S.A.G. Schouten Jan,
Kroon Abraham A.,
Kallen Carla J.H.,
Henry Ronald M.A.,
Dongen Martien C.J.M,
J.P.M. Eussen Simone,
H.C.M. Savelberg Hans.,
Berg Julianne D.,
Schaper Nicolaas C.,
Schram Miranda T.,
Stehouwer Coen D.A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
microcirculation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.793
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1549-8719
pISSN - 1073-9688
DOI - 10.1111/micc.12611
Subject(s) - medicine , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , population , reactive hyperemia , cohort , cardiology , endocrinology , vasodilation , environmental health
Objective Physical activity may provide a means for the prevention of cardiovascular disease via improving microvascular function. Therefore, this study investigated whether physical activity is associated with skin and retinal microvascular function. Methods In The Maastricht Study, a population‐based cohort study enriched with type 2 diabetes (n = 1298, 47.3% women, aged 60.2 ± 8.1 years, 29.5% type 2 diabetes), we studied whether accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sedentary time associate with skin and retinal microvascular function. Associations were studied by linear regression and adjusted for major cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, we investigated whether associations were stronger in type 2 diabetes. Results In individuals with type 2 diabetes, total physical activity and higher‐intensity physical activity were independently associated with greater heat‐induced skin hyperemia (regression coefficients per hour), respectively, 10 (95% CI: 1; 18) and 36 perfusion units (14; 58). In individuals without type 2 diabetes, total physical activity and higher‐intensity physical activity were not associated with heat‐induced skin hyperemia. No associations with retinal arteriolar %‐dilation were identified. Conclusion Higher levels of total and higher‐intensity physical activity were associated with greater skin microvascular vasodilation in individuals with, but not in those without, type 2 diabetes.