High physical activity combined with lipid-lowering drugs was associated with significantly lower levels of CRP (-37%) and SAA (-45%) compared to low physical activity with lipid-lowering drugs.
Cross-Sectional (n=436)
Are lipid lowering drug therapy, lower LDL-C, and higher physical activity associated with lower inflammatory markers in patients with stable coronary heart disease?
In patients with stable coronary heart disease, the combination of lipid-lowering therapy and high physical activity is associated with significantly lower levels of systemic inflammatory markers.
p-value: p=<0.01
Evidence suggests that inflammatory parameters such as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum amyloid-A (SAA) and fibrinogen (Fib) are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this study we investigated the association between LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), lipid lowering drug therapy (LLD) and inflammatory markers in 436 subjects (age 64,2 +/- 4.1 yr, BMI 27,6 +/- 3,9 kg/m2) with coronary heart disease, participating in outpatient exercise groups for cardiac rehabilitation. In a subgroup analysis (n=229), we looked at the respective effects of physical activity (PA) alone and in combination with LLD. For the whole group the levels of inflammatory markers were: hs-CRP 0,31 +/- 0,4 mg/dl; IL-6 2,04 +/- 1,6 pg/ml; SAA 6,26 +/- 14 mg/l; Fib 381 +/- 97 mg/dl. Compared to patients without LLD, those with LLD showed modestly lower concentrations for CRP (-7%) and IL-6 (-12%), (p 100 mg/dl. Patients with a high level of PA (PA > or = 3 times/week) exhibited significantly lower values for CRP (-18%), Fib (-11%) and SAA (-37%) (p<0.01, respectively) than patients with a low level of PA (< or = 1 time/week). The combination of a high level of PA, and intake of LLD further reduced CRP (-37%) and SAA (-45%), with no additional decrease in Fib (-10%) (p<0.01, respectively) compared to patients with a low level of PA and taking LLD. The data from this cross-sectional study suggest that factors such as LLD, LDL-C (< 100 mg/dl), and a high level of physical activity are associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers in patients with coronary heart disease. Particularly with respect to CRP and SAA values, a high level of PA in combination with LLD, showed the most pronounced effects. The proof of causality of these findings should further be investigated in randomized controlled trials.
König et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in stable coronary heart disease (n=436). Lipid lowering drug therapy (LLD) and high physical activity vs. No LLD and/or low physical activity was evaluated on Levels of inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, IL-6, SAA, and fibrinogen) (p=<0.01). High physical activity combined with lipid-lowering drugs was associated with significantly lower levels of CRP (-37%) and SAA (-45%) compared to low physical activity with lipid-lowering drugs.