title: Physical activity is associated with elevated arterial stiffness in patients with lumbar disk herniation.
abstract: METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in a general health examination.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and lumbar disk herniation (LDH).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Lumbar disk herniation (LDH) is a major cause of low back pain and sciatica. Various vascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and smoking have been reported to be associated with LDH. BaPWV is an early indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 490 participants with LDH and 490 participants without LDH were selected for the evaluation of baPWV. BaPWV was measured using an automatic device. The prevalence of LDH was calculated by the quartiles of baPWV levels. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for baPWV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LDH patients had significantly higher readings of baPWV compared with non-LDH subjects (P<0.001). The prevalence rate of LDH gradually increased according to baPWV quartiles. In addition, the levels of baPWV tended to increase as the frequency of physical activity reduced. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, physical activity, and systolic blood pressure contributed to increased baPWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings showed that LDH patients had higher baPWV levels. In addition, reduced physical activity was a risk factor contributing to increased baPWV. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of baPWV in LDH.
authors: *Department of Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University †Department of Medical Imaging, NO. 211 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army Departments of ‡Medical Imaging §Geriatrics ∥International Physical Examination and Healthy Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Jin
authors: Zhi-gang
authors: ZG
authors: Cao
authors: Yi-na
authors: YN
authors: Zhang
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Bao-zhong
authors: BZ
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*