title: Physical Fitness, Activity and Hand-Grip Strength Are Not Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Older Individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whereas evidence exists about the benefits of intensive exercise on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults, data are lacking regarding long-term effects of physical fitness and physical activity on cardiovascular health. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the longitudinal association of physical fitness, physical activity and muscle strength with arterial stiffness measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  a longitudinal follow-up study (2 years) of data from the B-PROOF study.
  
  
  METHODS
  a subgroup of the B-PROOF study (n=497).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred ninety-seven participants with a mean age of 72.1 years (SD 5.4) of which 57% was male.
  
  
  METHODS
  All performed at baseline and after two-year follow-up. Arterial stiffness was estimated by pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured with applanation tonometry. Furthermore, augmentation index (AIx) and aortic pulse pressure (PP) were assessed. Physical activity was estimated using a validated questionnaire regarding daily activities. Physical fitness was measured with a physical performance score, resulting from a walking, chair-stand and balance test. Muscle strength was assessed with hand-grip strength using a handheld dynamometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median performance score was 9.0 [IQR 8.0-11.0], the mean physical activity was 744.4 (SD 539.4) kcal/day and the mean hand-grip strength was 33.1 (SD 10.2) kg. AIx differed between the baseline and follow-up measurement (26.2% (SD 10.1) vs. 28.1% (SD 9.9); p < 0.01), whereas PWV and aortic PP did not. In multivariable linear regression analysis, physical performance, physical activity and hand-grip strength at baseline were not associated with the amount of arterial stiffness after two years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical fitness, activity and muscle strength were not associated with arterial stiffness. More research is warranted to elucidate the long-term effects of daily and intensive physical activity on arterial stiffness in an elderly population.
authors.affiliation: S.C. van Dijk, MD, Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Phone: +31 10 70 35979 ; Fax: +31 10 70 34768 ; E: s.c.vandijk@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: K M A
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Enneman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Wijngaarden
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Feskens
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geleijnse
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: de Jongh
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: R A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dhonukshe-Rutten
authors.forename: L C P G M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Schoor
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lips
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uitterlinden
authors.forename: F U S
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Mattace Raso
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: van den Meiracker
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Velde
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking