title: Effect of a Long-Term Physical Activity Intervention on Resting Pulse Rate in Older Persons: Results from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study.
abstract: To assess the utility of a long-term physical activity (PA) intervention for reducing resting pulse rate (RPR) in older persons.
  
  
  
  Community.
  
  
  
  Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study.
  
  
  
  Individuals aged 70 to 89 (N = 1,635, 67.2% women) were randomized to a moderate-intensity PA intervention (n = 818) or a health education-based successful aging (SA) intervention (n = 817).
  
  
  
  RPR was recorded at baseline and 6, 18, and 30 months. Longitudinal changes in RPR of intervention groups were compared using a mixed-effects analysis of covariance model for repeated-measure outcomes, generating least squares means with standard errors (SEs) or 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  
  Mean duration of the study was 2.6 years (median 2.7 years, interquartile range 2.3-3.1 years). The average effect of the PA intervention on RPR over the course of the study period was statistically significant but clinically small (average intervention difference = 0.84 beats/min; 95% CI = 0.17-1.51; Paverage= .01), with the most pronounced effect observed at 18 months (PA, 66.5 beats/min (SE 0.32 beats/min); SA, 67.8 beats/min (SE 0.32 beats/min); difference = 1.37 beats/min, 95% CI = 0.48-2.26 beats/min). The relationship became somewhat weaker and was not statistically significant at 30 months. There were no significant differences between several prespecified subgroups.
  
  
  
  A long-term moderate-intensity PA program was associated with a small and clinically insignificant slowing of RPR in older persons. Whether PA can deliver a beneficial reduction in RPR requires further examination in older adults.
authors: Department of Radiology, Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York.|Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors: Bríain
authors: B
authors: Ó Hartaigh
authors: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Laura C
authors: LC
authors: Lovato
authors: Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Pahor
authors: Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors: Thomas W
authors: TW
authors: Buford
authors: School of Medicine, New York University, New York City, New York.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Dodson
authors: Geriatric Cardiology Section, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Forman
authors: School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors: Matthew P
authors: MP
authors: Buman
authors: Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Jamehl L
authors: JL
authors: Demons
authors: Center for Aging and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors: Adam J
authors: AJ
authors: Santanasto
authors: Section of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Liu
authors: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Michael E
authors: ME
authors: Miller
authors: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
authors: Mary McGrae
authors: MM
authors: McDermott
authors: Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors: Thomas M
authors: TM
authors: Gill
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011674:Pulse; D012146:Rest; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
keywords: older persons; physical activity; resting pulse rate