Objectively measured physical activity and cardiac biomarkers: A cross sectional population based study in older men

Parsons, T. J., Sartini, C., Welsh, P. , Sattar, N. , Ash, S., Lennon, L. T., Wannamethee, S. G., Lee, I.-M., Whincup, P. H. and Jefferis, B. J. (2018) Objectively measured physical activity and cardiac biomarkers: A cross sectional population based study in older men. International Journal of Cardiology, 254, pp. 322-327. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.11.003) (PMID:29407114) (PMCID:PMC5958950)

Abstract

Background N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity Troponin T (hsTnT) are markers of cardiac injury used in diagnosis of heart failure and myocardial infarction respectively, and associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since physical activity is protective against cardiovascular disease and heart failure, we investigated whether higher levels of physical activity, and less sedentary behaviour were associated with lower NT-proBNP and hsTnT. Methods and results Cross sectional study of 1130 men, age 70–91 years, from the British Regional Heart Study, measured in 2010–2012. Fasting blood samples were analysed for NT-proBNP and hsTnT. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Relationships between activity and NT-proBNP or hsTnT were non-linear; biomarker levels were lower with higher total activity, steps, moderate/vigorous activity and light activity only at low to moderate levels of activity. For example, for each additional 10 min of moderate/vigorous activity, NT-proBNP was lower by 35.7% (95% CI − 47.9, − 23.6) and hsTnT by 8.4% (95% CI -11.1, − 5.6), in men who undertook < 25 or 50 min of moderate/vigorous activity per day respectively. Biomarker levels increased linearly with increasing sedentary behaviour, but not independently of moderate/vigorous activity. Conclusion Associations between biomarkers and moderate/vigorous activity (and between hsTnT and light activity) were independent of sedentary behaviour, suggesting activity is driving the relationships. In these older men with concomitantly low levels of physical activity, activity may be more important in protecting against cardiac health deterioration in less active individuals, although reverse causality might be operating.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation [PG/13/86/30546, PG09/024, RG/08/013/25942] and the National Institute for Health Research [Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2010–03–023].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sattar, Professor Naveed and Welsh, Professor Paul
• Authors: Parsons, T. J., Sartini, C., Welsh, P., Sattar, N., Ash, S., Lennon, L. T., Wannamethee, S. G., Lee, I.-M., Whincup, P. H., and Jefferis, B. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: International Journal of Cardiology
• Publisher: Elsevier Science B.V.
• ISSN: 0167-5273
• ISSN (Online): 1874-1754
• Published Online: 28 January 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Cardiology 254:322-327
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence