Key result
Physical activity linked to ~28% lower CHD risk in rural residents, mediated by metabolic factors.
Why the study?
Although physical activity is linked to coronary heart disease risk, the mediating factors underlying this relationship in rural residents remain little investigated.
Does physical activity reduce the prevalence of coronary heart disease in rural residents, and is this association mediated by fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and blood glucose?
Cross-Sectional (n=9,004)
Does physical activity reduce the prevalence of coronary heart disease in rural residents, and is this association mediated by fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and blood glucose?
Physical activity is associated with a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease in rural populations, an effect that appears to be partially mediated by improvements in fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.
Hypothesis-generating for rural CHD prevention; leaves open causal mediation by metabolic factors in cross-sectional data.
There is evidence that physical and chemical factors and risky lifestyle behaviours are significantly correlated with elevated susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD). Nevertheless, the mediation factors of this relationship are little investigated. This article attempts to assess the mediating factors between CHD and physical activity (PA) in rural residents. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 9,004 permanent residents in rural regions of Xinxiang County, Henan Province. The correlation between CHD and PA was evaluated using a logistic regression model, as well as the association between CHD and its associated risk factors. The robustness of the outcomes was evaluated through sensitivity analysis. The mediating factors of the correlation between CHD and PA in rural residents were explored through mediation analysis. The results showed that CHD was associated with PA (0.72, 95%CI:0.56-0.95), and the levels of fasting insulin (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), and blood glucose (GLU) were associated with PA (-0.92, 95%CI: (-1.48, -0.37), 0.08, 95%CI: (0.01, 0.15), -0.17, 95%CI: (-0.28, -0.06)). The levels of FINS, TC and GLU had significant mediating effects on the association of PA with CHD (1.00, 95%CI: (-0.0028, 0.0000), 1.00, 95%CI: (-0.0016, 0.0000), 1.00, 95%CI: (-0.0014, 0.0000)). In rural populations, PA is associated with CHD, possibly mediated by FINS, TC and GLU, rather than relying solely on the direct effects of PA.
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Xu et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary heart disease (n=9,004). Physical activity vs. Lower or no physical activity was evaluated on Prevalence of coronary heart disease (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.95, p=0.016). Physical activity was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (OR 0.72) among rural residents, an effect partially mediated by fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and blood glucose.
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