Long-term effect of different physical activity levels on subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged men: a 25-year prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of lifetime physical activity (PA) on selected indices of atherosclerosis in longitudinal observation of middle-aged men.


METHODS
The subject of the study was a cohort of 101 men (mean age 59,7 ± 9,0 years), free of cardiovascular symptoms and treatment, participating in follow-up examinations in the years 1985/90-2011/12. Self-report PA was assessed by interviewer-administered Seven-Day PA Recall and Historical PA questionnaire. Subclinical atherosclerosis was measured by assessing the coronary artery calcification (CAC) according to Agatston's method using multi-slice computed tomography; the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound; and the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT2000). The participants were initially divided into three groups according to tertiles of exercise-related energy expenditure (EE) in kcal/week at baseline, i.e. <2050 (low-to-moderate; n = 33), 2050-3840 (high; n = 34), >3840 (very high; n = 34).


RESULTS
The low-to-moderate, high and very high PA groups were comparable in terms of age and atherosclerosis risk factors at baseline. No linear relationship was found between PA and CAC, IMT and RHI. Men who maintained low-to-moderate (n = 26), high (n = 21) and very high (n = 15) PA level had the mean CAC of 286.1 ± 361.9, 10.7 ± 28.9, and 106.1 ± 278.3 (p<0.001 for low-to moderate vs high; p<0.05 for low-to-moderate vs very high); the mean IMT of 0.751 ± 0.19 mm, 0,641 ± 0.26 mm, and 0.750 ± 0.60 mm (p>0.05); and the mean RHI of 1.69 ± 0.4, 2.00 ± 0.4, and 2.13 ± 0.5 (p for trend = 0.050), respectively. No cases of CAC>400, IMT ≥ 0.9 and RHI<1.67 were noted only among men with maintained high PA level. At final examination men with high and very high PA had more favorable cardiometabolic profile than men with lower PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Maintaining regular high PA level through young and middle adulthood may protect against atherosclerosis as measured by CAC, IMT and RHI.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Kwaśniewska
Department of Sports Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Anna
A
Jegier
Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Tomasz
T
Kostka
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Elżbieta
E
Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Ewa
E
Rębowska
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Joanna
J
Kozińska
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland ; Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Drygas
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies