title: Physical activity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in older adults: results of the SAPALDIA 3 Cohort Study.
abstract: Associations of physical activity (PA) intensity with arterial stiffness in older adults at the population level are insufficiently studied. We examined cross-sectional associations of self-reported PA intensities with arterial stiffness in elderly Caucasians of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults. Mixed central and peripheral arterial stiffness was measured oscillometrically by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire long version was administered to classify each subject's PA level. We used univariable and multivariable mixed linear and logistic regression models for analyses in 1908 persons aged 50 years and older. After adjustment for several confounders moderate, vigorous and total PA were inversely associated with CAVI (p = 0.02-0.03). BaPWV showed negative and marginally significant associations with vigorous and moderate PA (each p = 0.06), but not with total PA (p = 0.28). Increased arterial stiffness (CAVI ≥ 9, upper tertile) was inversely and significantly associated with vigorous PA [odds ratio (OR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.88], and marginally significantly with total PA (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.57-1.02) and moderate PA (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56-1.01). The odds ratio for baPWV ≥ 14.4 was 0.67 (95% CI 0.48-0.93) across the vigorous PA levels, and was non-significant across the total (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.66-1.23) and moderate PA levels (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.28). In this general Caucasian population of older adults higher levels especially of vigorous PA were associated with lower arterial stiffness. These data support the importance of PA for improving cardiovascular health in elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland. simon.endes@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2193-0114
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endes
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaffner
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Seraina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caviezel
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dratva
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine Sonja
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Autenrieth
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Health Working Unit, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Health Working Unit, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pneumology and Respiratory Cell Research, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Regional Hospital Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: Zürcher Höhenklinik, Wald-Faltigberg, Faltigberg-Wald, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.affiliation: Lungenpraxis Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bettschart
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Trucksäss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular disease prevention; Epidemiology; Physical exercise; Prevention