Association of objectively measured physical activity with established and novel cardiovascular biomarkers in elderly subjects: every step counts

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2013-02, Vol.67 (2), p.194-197
• Main Authors: Klenk, Jochen, Denkinger, Michael, Nikolaus, Thorsten, Peter, Richard, Rothenbacher, Dietrich, Koenig, Wolfgang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Activity; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ageing; Biological and medical sciences; Biological markers; biomarker; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; cancer: breast; cardiovascular; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cohort Studies; coronary heart disease; diabetes; elderly; Epidemiology; Exercise; Female; General aspects; Germany; Health risk assessment; Heart attacks; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Internal medicine; Male; Medical sciences; methodology; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Motor Activity; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood; Natriuretic peptides; Older adults; Peptide Fragments - blood; physical activity; Population Surveillance; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; renal; Renal function; Renal Insufficiency - blood; Risk Factors; Short report; Studies; Time Factors; Troponin I - blood; Walking; Walking - physiology
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2012-201312

Objective To analyse the relationship between objectively measured daily walking duration and cardiovascular biomarkers of inflammation, cardiac dysfunction and renal impairment. Methods Between March 2009 and April 2010, physical activity was assessed in 1253 community-dwelling individuals living in Germany aged ≥65 years (57% men) over 1 week using a thigh-worn accelerometer. C reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT), creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (CysC) were also measured. Least-square means of daily walking duration were calculated for quartiles of each biomarker adjusted for sex, age, pre-existing cardiovascular disease and smoking status. Results After adjustment for covariates, statistically significant linear associations with walking duration were observed for WBC, hsTnT, Cr and CysC. CRP quartiles 1 and 2 showed no significant difference followed by a significant inverse dose–response relationship. A similar pattern, but less pronounced, was seen for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Mean differences between the first two quartiles of CRP and its fourth quartile were 17 min. Between categories 1 (more beneficial) and 4 of WBC, hsTnT, Cr and CysC the differences were 15, 12, 23 and 20 min, respectively. Conclusion Increased walking duration is associated with a more favourable profile of cardiovascular biomarkers in elderly subjects.