Accelerometer derived physical activity and subclinical coronary and carotid atherosclerosis: cross-sectional analyses in 22 703 middle-aged men and women in the SCAPIS study

Elin Ekblom-Bak, Mats Börjesson, Örjan Ekblom, Oskar Angerås, Frida Bergman, Caroline Berntsson, Carl-Johan Carlhäll, Gunnar Engström, Jan Engvall, Erika Fagman, Agneta Flinck, Peter Johansson, Amra Jujic, Tanja Kero, Lars Lind, Maria Mannila, Ellen Ostenfeld, Anders Persson, Jonas Persson, Margaretha PerssonBjörn Redfors, Camilla Sandberg, Patrik Wennberg, Jerry Öhlin, Carl Johan Östgren, Tomas Jernberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim included investigation of the associations between sedentary (SED), low-intensity physical activity (LIPA), moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in both coronaries and carotids and the estimated difference in prevalence by theoretical reallocation of time in different PA behaviours.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: Multisite study at university hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 22 670 participants without cardiovascular disease (51% women, 57.4 years, SD 4.3) from the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage study were included. SED, LIPA and MVPA were assessed by hip-worn accelerometer.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Any and significant subclinical coronary atherosclerosis (CA), Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS) and carotid atherosclerosis (CarA) were derived from imaging data from coronary CT angiography and carotid ultrasound.

RESULTS: High daily SED (>70% ≈10.5 hours/day) associated with a higher OR 1.44 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.91), for significant CA, and with lower OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.95), for significant CarA. High LIPA (>55% ≈8 hours/day) associated with lower OR for significant CA 0.70 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.96), and CACS, 0.71 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.97), but with higher OR for CarA 1.41 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.76). MVPA above reference level, >2% ≈20 min/day, associated with lower OR for significant CA (OR range 0.61-0.67), CACS (OR range 0.71-0.75) and CarA (OR range 0.72-0.79). Theoretical replacement of 30 min of SED into an equal amount of MVPA associated with lower OR for significant CA, especially in participants with high SED 0.84 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.96) or low MVPA 0.51 (0.36 to 0.73).

CONCLUSIONS: MVPA was associated with a lower risk for significant atherosclerosis in both coronaries and carotids, while the association varied in strength and direction for SED and LIPA, respectively. If causal, clinical implications include avoiding high levels of daily SED and low levels of MVPA to reduce the risk of developing significant subclinical atherosclerosis.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere073380
JournalBMJ Open
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Nov 23

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disease

Free keywords

  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise
  • Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnostic imaging
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Accelerometry/methods

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