Key result
Ideal leisure-time physical activity, compared with poor activity, was associated with a higher prevalence of normal diastolic function (39.8% vs. 31.5%, P<0.001) in older adults.
Why the study?
Does higher or improving leisure-time physical activity attenuate adverse age-related changes in cardiac structure and function in older adults free of cardiovascular disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=4,342)
Yes
Does higher or improving leisure-time physical activity attenuate adverse age-related changes in cardiac structure and function in older adults free of cardiovascular disease?
Absolute Event Rate: 39.8% vs 31.5%
p-value: p=< 0.001
Sustaining or increasing leisure-time physical activity over a 24-year period is associated with more favorable indices of left ventricular diastolic and systolic function in older adults.
Should not yet change practice; leaves open whether sustained leisure-time activity attenuates age-related diastolic decline.
AIMS: Adults who engage in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) have a reduced risk of developing heart failure. We hypothesized that high levels of LTPA are associated with diminished adverse age-related changes in cardiac structure and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 4342 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study participants free of cardiovascular disease who underwent standardized echocardiography. In a cross-sectional analysis, we related LTPA (poor, intermediate, or ideal) to cardiac structure and function. We also related cumulative average LTPA over 24 years and changes in LTPA categories to echocardiographic measures. Cross-sectional analysis demonstrated that ideal LTPA, compared with poor LTPA, was associated with better diastolic function [prevalence of normal diastolic function: 39.8% vs. 31.5%, P < 0.001; mean E/E' ratio (95% CI): 9.8 (9.6, 9.9) vs. 10.4 (10.2, 10.5), P = 0.001] and better systolic function [left-ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain: -18.3 (-18.4, -18.2) vs. -17.9 (-18.0, -17.8), P < 0.001] after adjusting for age, sex, race, and centre. Higher cumulative average LTPA over 24 years or an improvement in LTPA category were also, respectively, related to a more favourable E/E' ratio (P < 0.0001, P = 0.004) and longitudinal LV strain (P = 0.0002, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Ideal LTPA, higher average levels of LTPA over a 24-year period, and an improvement in LTPA even later in life were associated with more favourable indices of LV diastolic and systolic function in older adults. Sustaining higher levels of LTPA, and even increasing physical activity later in life, may be beneficial for older adults in attenuating expected age-related changes in cardiac structure and function.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hegde et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in free of cardiovascular disease (n=4,342). Ideal leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) vs. Poor LTPA was evaluated on normal diastolic function (p=< 0.001). Ideal leisure-time physical activity, compared with poor activity, was associated with a higher prevalence of normal diastolic function (39.8% vs. 31.5%, P<0.001) in older adults.