Association of television viewing time with central hemodynamic parameters and the radial augmentation index in adults

Vascular alterations among male elite athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection

SARS-CoV-2 may affect the cardiovascular system and vascular impairment has been reported in healthy young adults recovering from COVID-19. However, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the vascular function of elite athletes is unknown. We examined 30 healthy male elite athletes (age 25.8 ± 4.6 years) pre-season and at a 6-month follow-up (182 ± 10 days). Vascular function and central blood pressure were calculated using transfer function-based analysis of peripheral arterial waveforms obtained by oscillometry. We performed a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA on the biomarker data, with SARS-CoV-2 status as the between-groups factor and time as the within-groups factor. Subjects who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were studied 18 ± 4 days after their positive testing date at follow-up. Of 30 athletes, 15 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after the first examination and prior to the follow-up. None had severe COVID-19 or reported any persisting symptoms. The results of the two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant main effect of COVID-19 on any of the investigated biomarkers. However, there was a significant interaction between the effects of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and time on augmentation index (Aix) (p = 0.006) and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (Aix@75), (p = 0.0018). The observation of an interaction effect on Aix and Aix@75 in the absence of any main effect indicates a cross-over interaction. Significant vascular alterations in male elite athletes recovering from COVID-19 were observed that suggest vascular impairment. Whether these alterations affect athletic performance should be evaluated in future studies.

Associations of Sedentary Time with Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

PURPOSE

To evaluate if sedentary time (ST) is associated with heart rate (HR) and variability (HRV) in adults.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Google Scholar through June 2020. Inclusion criteria were observational design, humans, adults, English language, ST as the exposure, resting HR/HRV as the outcome, and (meta-analysis only) availability of the quantitative association with variability. After qualitative synthesis, meta-analysis used inverse variance heterogeneity models to estimate pooled associations.

RESULTS

Thirteen and eight articles met the criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. All studies were cross-sectional and few used gold standard ST or HRV assessment methodology. The qualitative synthesis suggested no associations between ST and HR/HRV. The meta-analysis found a significant association between ST and HR (β = 0.24 bpm per hour ST; CI: 0.10, 0.37) that was stronger in males (β = 0.36 bpm per hour ST; CI: 0.19, 0.53). Pooled associations between ST and HRV indices were non-significant (p > 0.05). Substantial heterogeneity was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The limited available evidence suggests an unfavorable but not clinically meaningful association between ST and HR, but no association with HRV. Future longitudinal studies assessing ST with thigh-based monitoring and HRV with electrocardiogram are needed.

Noninvasive validation of central and peripheral augmentation index estimated by a novel wrist-worn tonometer

BACKGROUND

The validation of new blood pressure devices with easier use and more rapid data collection may facilitate the incorporation of these measures into clinical practice. We analyze the reliability and validity of Pulse Wave Analysis as reported by a novel wrist-worn device, easy and quick to use, comparing central and peripheral augmentation index (AIx) with the same measures from the SphygmoCor. Additionally, we analyzed clinical relevance through the association of the Pulse Wave Analysis, as reported by a novel wrist-worn device, with other cardiovascular parameters.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including 254 participants. Mean age was 51.9 ± 13.4 years and 53% were women.

MEASUREMENTS

peripheral AIx (PAIx) and central AIx (CAIx) by the wrist-worn device and SphygmoCor (MM3); carotid-femoral (cf) pulse wave velocity (PWV) by SphygmoCor (MM3); cardioankle-vascular index (CAVI), ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle (ba) PWV by the Vasera device and carotid-intima media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Intra-observer intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for PAIx was 0.886 (95% CI 0.803-0.934) and for CAIx 0.943 (95% CI 0.901-0.968) with Bland Altman limits of agreement -0.75 (-23.8 to 21.8) and 0.08 (-15.7 to 15.9), respectively. Inter-observer ICC for PAIx was 0.952 (95% CI 0.915-0.972) and CAIx 0.893 (95% CI 0.811-0.939) with limits of agreement -0.45 (-13.7 to 12.8) and 0.43 (-17.7 to 18.5), respectively. Comparing the wrist-worn device with SphygmoCor, the ICC was 0.849 (95% CI 0.798-0.887) for PAIx, and 0.783 (95% CI 0.711-0.838) for CAIx. In Bland-Altman, limits of agreement for PAIx 1.03 (-20.67 to 22.73), and for CAIx -2.14 (-24.79 to 20.50). PAIx and CAIx, from the wrist-worn device, correlated with age, CAVI, ABI, baPWV, cfPWV, IMT, glomerular filtration and cardiovascular risk.

CONCLUSION

AIx measurements by wrist-worn device shows a good intra-observer and inter-observer reliability, inter-device noninvasive reliability and validity when compared with SphygmoCor, and clinical relevance by association with measures of vascular structure and function, end-organ damage and cardiovascular risk.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02623894; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02623894.

Television Viewing Time, Physical Activity, and Mortality Among African Americans

Background

Prolonged television viewing time, a marker of sedentary activity, is independently associated with increased all-cause mortality; however, this association has rarely been studied in African Americans. The objective of our study was to examine the association between television viewing time and mortality among African Americans by using data from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS).

Methods

We studied 5,289 participants from the JHS study who reported television viewing time (h/day) in the JHS baseline questionnaire from 2000 through 2004. Using multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, nutrition, prevalent coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension, we computed hazard ratios to examine the association between television viewing time (≤2 h/day, 2–4 h/day, and ≥4 h/day) and mortality.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 55 years, and 64% were women. After a median follow-up of 9.9 years (interquartile range, 9.0–10.7), 615 deaths occurred (data analysis conducted in 2017). Hazard ratios for mortality were 1.08 (0.86–1.37) for television time of 2 to 4 hours per day and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.19–1.83) for television time of greater than or equal to 4 hours per day when compared with those who watched television less than 2 hours per day (P trend = .002). When we restricted analyses to those who performed leisure-time activities, the hazard ratios for mortality were 1.10 (95% CI, 0.84–1.45) for television viewing of 2 to 4 hours per day and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.13–1.86) for more than 4 hours per day compared with the less than 2 hours per day.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that greater television viewing time, even among those who perform leisure-time physical activities, is associated with increased all-cause mortality among African Americans. Thus, it may serve as an indicator of a sedentary lifestyle with potential for intervention.

EVIDENT 3 Study: A randomized, controlled clinical trial to reduce inactivity and caloric intake in sedentary and overweight or obese people using a smartphone application: Study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Mobile technology, when included within multicomponent interventions, could contribute to more effective weight loss. The objective of this project is to assess the impact of adding the use of the EVIDENT 3 application, designed to promote healthy living habits, to traditional modification strategies employed for weight loss. Other targeted behaviors (walking, caloric-intake, sitting time) and outcomes (quality of life, inflammatory markers, measurements of arterial aging) will also be evaluated.

METHODS

Randomized, multicentre clinical trial with 2 parallel groups. The study will be conducted in the primary care setting and will include 700 subjects 20 to 65 years, with a body mass index (27.5-40 kg/m), who are clinically classified as sedentary. The primary outcome will be weight loss. Secondary outcomes will include change in walking (steps/d), sitting time (min/wk), caloric intake (kcal/d), quality of life, arterial aging (augmentation index), and pro-inflammatory marker levels. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, after 3 months, and after 1 year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Both groups will receive the traditional primary care lifestyle counseling prior to randomization. The subjects in the IG will be lent a smartphone and a smartband for a 3-month period, corresponding to the length of the intervention. The EVIDENT 3 application integrates the information collected by the smartband on physical activity and the self-reported information by participants on daily food intake. Using this information, the application generates recommendations and personalized goals for weight loss.

DISCUSSION

There is a great diversity in the applications used obtaining different results on lifestyle improvement and weight loss. The populations studied are not homogeneous and generate different results. The results of this study will help our understanding of the efficacy of new technologies, combined with traditional counseling, towards reducing obesity and enabling healthier lifestyles.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Health Area of Salamanca ("CREC of Health Area of Salamanca") on April 2016. A SPIRIT checklist is available for this protocol. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov provided by the US National Library of Medicine-number NCT03175614.

Levels of physical activity are correlated with intima media ratio in subjects without but not with metabolic syndrome: A study of Iranians without a history of cardiovascular events

AIM

We aimed to investigate the relationship between carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) and physical activity levels (PAL), in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in indidiviuals with and without carotid artery plaque (CAP) defined using high-resolution ultrasound.

METHOD

A sample of 506 subjects [215 (42.5%) males], aged 35-64 years was recruited from an urban population in Mashhad, Iran, using a stratified-cluster method as part of the Mashhad Stroke Heart Atherosclerosis Disorder (MASHAD) study cohort. This sub-sample was selected randomly from a cohort of 9765 individuals for carotid duplex ultrasound. Comparisons were made between individuals with and without CAP on the one hand, and between participants with and without MetS on the other hand with regard to physical activity and cardiometabolic risk level, as well as their correlation with CIMT.

RESULT

PAL was positively and significantly correlated with CIMT in the total sample (r=0.132, p<0.001). The correlation coefficient was 0.132 (p=0.426) in the MetS+ participants and 0.440 (p<0.001) in the MetS- participants. The correlation of PAL with CIMT was also positive and significant in CAP+ participants (r=0.150, p<0.001), but not in the CAP- participants (r=-0.001, p=0.621), with however a non-significant difference between the two estimates (p=0.374). Hip circumference was correlated with CIMT in MetS- but not MetS+ participants.

CONCLUSION

physical activity in the current study appeared to be a correlate of infraclinical CVD risk in participants without metabolic syndrome, but not in those without.

Review of researches on smartphone applications for physical activity promotion in healthy adults

Physical activity is known as a preventative method for preventing life-style-related diseases. Smartphone applications for health and fitness intervention have released with rapid increase of innovative technology. Reviews of recent publications on mobile application have been conducted to observe feasibility and applicability for physical activity intervention. Bibliographic searches of PubMed and ScienceDirect were conducted with key terms, 'physical activity,' 'fitness,' 'smart-phone,' and 'health' between the years 2014 and 2017 to obtain 5,087 publications. Out of 5,087 articles, five articles on sensor-based applications and five articles on user entry-based applications were obtained through the inclusion and exclusion processes. Accuracy of the physical activity assessments were reported to be high in comparison to the conventional assessment tools. The overall subject rating on the app motivational ratings were positive with high correlation between physical activity and treats and cues. The adherence rates to the apps significantly dropped prior to 3 months. Publications that elucidate feasibility and accuracy of smartphone applications that motivates physical activity seem limited with adequately conducted study designs. Large-scaled, control-compared, long-term randomized control trials should be conducted to elucidate the effects of the app interventions.

Electrocardiogram derived QRS duration associations with elevated central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) in a rural Australian population

Background

Prolonged electrocardiogram QRS durations are often present in hypertensive patients. Small increases in QRS duration serve as independent risk factors for both increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Aortic stiffness is associated with increases in central aortic systolic blood pressure (CASP). However CASP and ECG QRS duration interactions have not been established in rural community populations. Our aims are to determine if QRS duration > 100 msec is associated with an elevated CASP measure in an Australian rural population.

Methods

A retrospective cross sectional population was obtained from the CSU Diabetes Screening Research Initiative data base where 68 participants had both central aortic pressure recorded and ECG derived QRS duration. Central aortic pressure was determined by directly recording radial arterial tonometry and brachial cuff pressure (HealthStats, Singapore). Resting 12-lead electrocardiograms were obtained from each subject using a Welch Allyn PC-Based ECG system.

Results

The population had a mean CASP of 137.8 mmHg, higher than previously reported in other population studies. In 8/68 subjects with a prolonged cardiac QRS duration >120 msec, CASP ranged from 129 mmHg – 182 mmHg. When subgroup analysis was stratified on the basis QRS duration <100 msec and ≥100 msec significant differences (p = 0.036) were observed for mean CASP, 130.6 mmHg ± 15.6 (SD) versus 140.6 mmHg ± 16.8 (SD), respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that an arbitrary CASP reading greater than a value 140 mmHg raises suspicion of a prolonged QRS duration. QRS durations ≥100 msec in an aging rural population are associated with higher CASP measures. Our results also suggest in aging Australian rural populations CASP is likely to be elevated, possibly due to age related aortic stiffening.

Television viewing duration and blood pressure among 18-74-year-old adults. The French nutrition and health survey (ENNS, 2006-2007)

OBJECTIVES

To describe Blood Pressure (BP) according to the time spent viewing television and examine whether the associations between television viewing and systolic and diastolic BP differed depending on sex, age and BMI.

DESIGN

The French health and nutrition survey (ENNS) was conducted in 2006-2007 on a multistage stratified random sample of 18-74-year-old adults.

METHODS

Systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were assessed using three measurements. Among subjects without BP-lowering drugs and lifestyle measures, adjusted means of SBP and DBP were estimated for each television viewing category (<3h and ≥3h).

RESULTS

Among 2050 ENNS participants, 81.2% declared neither drug medication nor lifestyle change to lower BP. In women without BP-lowering measure, viewing television 3h/day or more increased significantly SBP and DBP adjusted means (+2mmHg) compared to women who spent less than 3h/day in front of the television. These associations were stronger in obese or 35-54-year-old women. In men, no relationship between DBP and television-viewing has been observed. Though, SBP was positively associated with television-viewing in non-overweight, 18-29 or 55-74 year-old men.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that the association between television viewing duration and BP must be evaluated differently between gender, age group and BMI category.

Risk Stratification of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Using Aortic Augmentation Index

BACKGROUND

Central augmentation index (cAIx) is an indicator for vascular stiffness. Obstructive and aneurysmatic vascular disease can affect pulse wave propagation and reflection, causing changes in central aortic pressures.

AIM

To assess and compare cAIx in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and / or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

METHODS

cAIx was assessed by radial applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) in a total of 184 patients at a tertiary referral centre. Patients were grouped as having PAD only, AAA only, or both AAA and PAD. Differences in cAIx measurements between the three patient groups were tested by non-parametric tests and stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis to investigate associations with obstructive or aneurysmatic patterns of vascular disease.

RESULTS

In the study sample of 184 patients, 130 had PAD only, 20 had AAA only, and 34 patients had both AAA and PAD. Mean cAIx (%) was 30.5 ± 8.2 across all patients. It was significantly higher in females (35.2 ± 6.1, n = 55) than males (28.4 ± 8.2, n = 129), and significantly higher in patients over 80 years of age (34.4 ± 6.9, n = 22) than in those under 80 years (30.0 ± 8.2, n = 162). Intergroup comparison revealed a significant difference in cAIx between the three patient groups (AAA: 27.3 ± 9.5; PAD: 31.4 ± 7.8; AAA & PAD: 28.8 ± 8.5). cAIx was significantly lower in patients with AAA, higher in patients with both AAA and PAD, and highest in patients with PAD only (beta = 0.21, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness in high-risk patients indicates that cAIx differs according to the pattern of vascular disease. Measurements revealed significantly higher cAIx values for patients with obstructive peripheral arterial disease than for patients with aneurysmatic disease.

Physical activity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in older adults: results of the SAPALDIA 3 Cohort Study

Associations of physical activity (PA) intensity with arterial stiffness in older adults at the population level are insufficiently studied. We examined cross-sectional associations of self-reported PA intensities with arterial stiffness in elderly Caucasians of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults. Mixed central and peripheral arterial stiffness was measured oscillometrically by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire long version was administered to classify each subject's PA level. We used univariable and multivariable mixed linear and logistic regression models for analyses in 1908 persons aged 50 years and older. After adjustment for several confounders moderate, vigorous and total PA were inversely associated with CAVI (p = 0.02-0.03). BaPWV showed negative and marginally significant associations with vigorous and moderate PA (each p = 0.06), but not with total PA (p = 0.28). Increased arterial stiffness (CAVI ≥ 9, upper tertile) was inversely and significantly associated with vigorous PA [odds ratio (OR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.88], and marginally significantly with total PA (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.57-1.02) and moderate PA (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56-1.01). The odds ratio for baPWV ≥ 14.4 was 0.67 (95% CI 0.48-0.93) across the vigorous PA levels, and was non-significant across the total (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.66-1.23) and moderate PA levels (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.28). In this general Caucasian population of older adults higher levels especially of vigorous PA were associated with lower arterial stiffness. These data support the importance of PA for improving cardiovascular health in elderly people.

[Relationship between physical activity and hemodynamic parameters in adults]

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship between physical activity, as assessed by accelerometer, with central and peripheral augmentation index and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in adults.

METHODS

This study analyzed 263 subjects who were included in the EVIDENT study. Physical activity was assessed during 7 days using the ActigraphGT3X accelerometer (counts/min). Carotid ultrasound was used to measure carotid IMT. The Sphygmo Cor System was used to measure central and peripheral augmentation index (CAIx and PAIx).

RESULTS

Mean age 55.85±12 years; 59.30% female; 26.7 body mass index and blood pressure 120/77mmHg. Mean physician activity counts/min was 244.37 and 2.63±10.26min/day of vigorous or very vigorous activity. Physical activity showed an inverse correlation with PAIx (r=-0.179; P<.01) and vigorous activity day time with IMT(r=-0.174; P<.01), CAIx (r=-0.217; P<.01) and PAIx (r=-0.324; P<.01). After adjusting for confounding factors in the multiple regression analysis, the inverse association of CAIx with counts/min and the time spent in vigorous/very vigorous activity was maintained.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that both physical activity and time spent in vigorous or vigorous activity are associated with the central augmentation index in adults.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity as a mediator between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk in Spanish healthy adults: a mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Public health strategies for cardiovascular prevention highlight the importance of physical activity, but do not consider the additional potentially harmful effects of sedentary behavior. This study was conducted between 2010 and 2012 and analyzed between 2013 and 2014. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors in the Spanish adult population and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 1122 healthy subjects belonging to the EVIDENT study. Sedentary behavior was objectively measured over 7 days using Actigraph accelerometers. We assessed waist circumference (WC), triglycerides-to-HDL-C ratio (TG/HDL-C), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), and undertook homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear regression models were fitted according to Baron and Kenny procedures for mediation analysis.

RESULTS

TG/HDL-C and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in adults who spent more minutes in sedentary activities after adjusting for potential covariates. However when MVPA was added to the ANCOVA models as covariate the effect of sedentary time on HOMA-IR disappeared. In addition, MVPA acted as a full mediator of the relationship between sedentary time and HOMA-IR. In contrast, subjects with lower levels of MVPA presented worse cardiometabolic profiles than those from higher MVPA categories, even after controlling for sedentary time and other potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that both MVPA and sedentary time should be considered when developing cardiometabolic risk guidelines.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01083082 .

Higher physical activity is associated with lower aortic stiffness but not with central blood pressure: the ADDITION-Pro Study

Physical activity is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. However, improvements in conventional risk factors due to physical activity do not explain its full benefit. Therefore, we examined associations of objectively measured physical activity energy expenditure and intensity with central hemodynamics to provide new insight into the link between physical activity and cardiovascular disease. We analyzed data from 1816 Danes (median age: 66 years) without cardiovascular disease. Physical activity was estimated using combined accelerometry and heart rate monitoring. Aortic stiffness was assessed by applanation tonometry, as aortic pulse wave velocity, and central blood pressure was estimated from radial waveforms. Associations between physical activity energy expenditure and central hemodynamics were examined by linear regression. Furthermore, the consequence of substituting 1 hour sedentary behavior with 1 hour light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on central hemodynamics was examined. Median physical activity energy expenditure was 28.0 kJ/kg/d (IQR: 19.8; 38.7). A 10 kJ/kg/d higher energy expenditure was associated with 0.75% lower aortic pulse wave velocity (CI: -1.47; -0.03). Associations with central systolic blood pressure and central pulse pressure were not statistically significant. We observed no difference in central hemodynamics when substituting 1 hour sedentary behavior with 1 hour light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In this relatively inactive population, higher physical activity energy expenditure was associated with lower aortic stiffness, while there was no statistically significant association between substitution of activity intensity and central hemodynamics. This suggests that lower aortic stiffness is one of a number of health benefits attributed to higher habitual physical activity.

Effectiveness of a smartphone application for improving healthy lifestyles, a randomized clinical trial (EVIDENT II): study protocol

BACKGROUND

New technologies could facilitate changes in lifestyle and improve public health. However, no large randomized, controlled studies providing scientific evidence of the benefits of their use have been made. The aims of this study are to develop and validate a smartphone application, and to evaluate the effect of adding this tool to a standardized intervention designed to improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to physical activity. An evaluation is also made of the effect of modifying habits upon vascular structure and function, and therefore on arterial aging.

METHODS/DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel group clinical trial will be carried out. A total of 1215 subjects under 70 years of age from the EVIDENT trial will be included. Counseling common to both groups (control and intervention) will be provided on adaptation to the Mediterranean diet and on physical activity. The intervention group moreover will receive training on the use of a smartphone application designed to promote a healthy diet and increased physical activity, and will use the application for three months. The main study endpoints will be the changes in physical activity, assessed by accelerometer and the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) interview, and adaptation to the Mediterranean diet, as evaluated by an adherence questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Evaluation also will be made of vascular structure and function based on central arterial pressure, the radial augmentation index, pulse velocity, the cardio-ankle vascular index, and carotid intima-media thickness.

DISCUSSION

Confirmation that the new technologies are useful for promoting healthier lifestyles and that their effects are beneficial in terms of arterial aging will have important clinical implications, and may contribute to generalize their application in favor of improved population health.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT02016014.

Relationship between objectively measured physical activity and cardiovascular aging in the general population--the EVIDENT trial

BACKGROUND

Aging has been associated with an increase in arterial stiffness. We analyzed the relationship between regular physical activity and cardiovascular aging evaluated by the radial augmentation index (rAIx), ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), pulse pressure (PP) and heart age in subjects without atherosclerotic disease.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed including 1365 subjects from the EVIDENT trial (mean age 54.9±13.7 years; 60.3% women). As a measure of total volume of physical activity we used counts/minute recorded in an accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X) that participants wore for seven days, collecting data in 60-sec epochs, and respondents with ≥4 valid days were retained for the analysis. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using measures of rAIx, AASI, and central and peripheral PP on the B-pro device. rAIx was adjusted to 75 heart rate(rAIx75). Cardiovascular risk and heart age was estimated by the Framingham Risk Score.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) of counts/min was 236.9 (176.3-307.8), rAIx75 90 (77-100), sleep PP 40 mmHg (33-47), central PP 39 mmHg (32-47) and heart age 57 years (45-73) and the mean±SD of the ASSI was 0.44±0.07. We found an inverse correlation between counts/minute and rAIx75 (r=-0.086; p<0.01), AASI (r=-0.146; p<0.001), heart age (r=-0.163; p<0.001) and peripherals PP. These associations were remained after controlling for potential confounders, except for rAIx75. In the multiple regression analysis, after adjustment, an inverse association persisted between counts/minute and AASI, sleep PP and heart age, but not with rAIx75. Accordingly, for every 100 higher counts/minute of accelerometer measures, both AASI and sleep PP would be lower by one measurement unit (beta=-0.979 and -1.031 respectively, p<0.001) and the estimated heart age by half year (beta=-0.525, p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Regular physical activity was inversely associated with parameters related to advanced cardiovascular aging after adjustment for potentially influencing variables.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01083082.