Open AccessPhysical Activity Measured by Accelerometry and its Associations With Cardiac Structure and Vascular Function in Young and Middle‐Aged Adults
Author(s) -
Andersson Charlotte,
Lyass Asya,
Larson Martin G.,
Spartano Nicole L.,
Vita Joseph A.,
Benjamin Emelia J.,
Murabito Joanne M.,
Esliger Dale W.,
Blease Susan J.,
Hamburg Naomi M.,
Mitchell Gary F.,
Vasan Ramachandran S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.114.001528
Subject(s) - medicine , pulse wave velocity , cardiology , body mass index , cohort , framingham heart study , blood pressure , framingham risk score , disease
Background Physical activity is associated with several health benefits, including lower cardiovascular disease risk. The independent influence of physical activity on cardiac and vascular function in the community, however, has been sparsely investigated. Measures and Results We related objective measures of moderate‐ to vigorous‐intensity physical activity ( MVPA , assessed by accelerometry) to cardiac and vascular indices in 2376 participants of the Framingham Heart Study third generation cohort (54% women, mean age 47 years). Using multivariable regression models, we related MVPA to the following echocardiographic and vascular measures: left ventricular mass, left atrial and aortic root sizes, carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and forward pressure wave. Men and women engaged in MVPA 29.9±21.4 and 25.5±19.4 min/day, respectively. Higher values of MVPA (per 10‐minute increment) were associated with lower carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (estimate −0.53 ms/m; P =0.006) and lower forward pressure wave (estimate −0.23 mm Hg; P =0.03) but were not associated with augmentation index (estimate 0.13%; P =0.25). MVPA was associated positively with log e left ventricular mass (estimate 0.006 log e [g/m 2 ]; P =0.0003), left ventricular wall thickness (estimate 0.07 mm; P =0.0001), and left atrial dimension (estimate 0.10 mm; P =0.01). MVPA also tended to be positively associated with aortic root dimension (estimate 0.05 mm; P =0.052). Associations of MVPA with cardiovascular measures were similar, in general, for bouts lasting <10 versus ≥10 minutes. Conclusions In our community‐based sample, greater physical activity was associated with lower vascular stiffness but with higher echocardiographic left ventricular mass and left atrial size. These findings suggest complex relations of usual levels of physical activity and cardiovascular remodeling.