Arterial Stiffness is Associated With Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity Levels in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients.

PURPOSE

Arterial stiffness has shown independent predictive value for all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities, as well as fatal and nonfatal coronary events. Physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study aims to analyze the cross-sectional association of arterial stiffness with objectively measured PA in patients following acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

One hundred patients were consecutively recruited after experiencing an acute myocardial infarction. Central arterial stiffness was measured through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and daily PA was assessed objectively during 7 consecutive days with accelerometers. To be valid, data required recordings of at least 8 hr/d on 5 d.

RESULTS

The cf-PWV showed a negative and significant association with total weekly time spent in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (r = -0.416, P < .001). Patients classified as having higher risk according to arterial stiffness values (cf-PWV ≥10 m/sec) showed significantly lower time spent in MVPA than those below that threshold. The cf-PWV was significantly lower in patients performing >300 min of MVPA/wk than in those performing <150 min/wk (8.53 ± 2.08 vs 10.3 ± 2.44 m/sec, P = .021). Differences remained significant after adjustment for several confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate to vigorous PA was inversely associated with arterial stiffness and time spent in MVPA was lower in patients after acute myocardial infarction, with cf-PWV above the risk threshold value (≥10 m/sec). These results seem to reinforce the importance of PA as a nonpharmacological tool for secondary cardiovascular prevention.