What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Intervention: Habitual physical activity vs. Lower physical activity. Primary outcome: Aortic stiffness (niCFPWV) (β = -0.06, p=0.01).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the association between habitual physical activity levels and noninvasive measures of central arterial stiffness and pressure pulsatility across age and sex groups.

September 1, 2026Vascular MedicineOpen Access

Association of physical activity with arterial stiffness and pulsatility in a community-based cohort

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

The highest quintile of habitual physical activity was associated with lower aortic stiffness (β = -0.06, p = 0.01), particularly in older adults.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Higher habitual physical activity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in older adults and higher pressure pulsatility in younger adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Highest habitual physical activity linked to lower aortic stiffness, particularly in older adults.

β = -0.06
P=0.01
n=6,451

Why the study?

Although acute physical activity improves vascular function, its relationship with arterial health across varying habitual physical activity levels remains understudied.

Does higher habitual physical activity improve arterial stiffness and pulsatility in a community-based cohort?

Population

6451 FHS participants (mean age 50 ± 15 years, 55% women)

Comparison

PA scores (as quintiles and continuous)

Design

Community-based cohort study

Authors

MJMawra JhaBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ZDZhiyong DongShunyi Hospital of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital SMSean MeagherBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports age-specific PA benefits on stiffness; hypothesis-generating, requires prospective confirmation before practice change.

Key Points

To evaluate the association between habitual physical activity levels and noninvasive measures of central arterial stiffness and pressure pulsatility across age and sex groups.
Analyzed cross-sectional data from 6,451 Framingham Heart Study participants across Generation 2 (Exam 8, n = 2,999) and Generation 3 (Exam 1, n = 4,064).
Assessed habitual physical activity via standardized questionnaires and measured vascular properties—carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (niCFPWV), central pulse pressure (CPP), and forward wave pressure (FWP)—using applanation tonometry.
Conducted multivariable linear regression to assess associations, evaluated effect modification by age and sex, and performed mediation analyses for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality.
Participants in the highest physical activity quintile had significantly lower aortic stiffness (niCFPWV, β = −0.06 ± 0.02, p = 0.01), while continuous physical activity was associated with higher central pulse pressure (standardized β = 0.02 ± 0.01, p = 0.03) but not forward wave pressure.
Age significantly modified these relationships: physical activity was associated with lower niCFPWV in individuals ≥ 48 years (standardized β = −0.21 ± 0.07, p = 0.005) and higher CPP in those < 48 years (standardized β = 0.01 ± 0.004, p = 0.01).
Physical activity was associated with higher CPP in non-hypertensive participants (β = 0.02 ± 0.01, p = 0.02) but not hypertensive participants, and vascular measures did not significantly mediate heart failure or mortality.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=6,451)

Structured PICO

Does higher habitual physical activity improve arterial stiffness and pulsatility in a community-based cohort?

Population

6,451 community-based participants (mean age 50 years, 55% women) from the Framingham Heart Study.

Exposure

Higher habitual physical activity (assessed via standardized questionnaire, analyzed as quintiles and continuously)

Comparator

Lower levels of habitual physical activity

Outcome

Arterial health measures including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (niCFPWV), central pulse pressure (CPP), and forward wave pressure (FWP)surrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: β = -0.06

p-value: p=0.01

Higher habitual physical activity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in older adults and higher pressure pulsatility in younger adults, though these vascular measures did not mediate cardiovascular outcomes.

Cite This Study

Jha et al. (2026) reported a cohort. Habitual physical activity vs. Lower physical activity was evaluated on Aortic stiffness (niCFPWV) (β = -0.06, p=0.01). The highest quintile of habitual physical activity was associated with lower aortic stiffness (β = -0.06, p = 0.01), particularly in older adults.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a969a7f535111e2d4ce8ccf https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863x261447862

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Association of physical activity with arterial stiffness and pulsatility in a community-based cohort

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Association of physical activity with arterial stiffness and pulsatility in a community-based cohort

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider