Physical activity and physiological cardiac remodelling in a community setting: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
- E B Turkbey1,
- N W Jorgensen2,
- W C Johnson2,
- A G Bertoni3,
- J F Polak4,
- A V Diez Roux5,
- R P Tracy6,
- J A C Lima7,
- D A Bluemke1
- 1Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- 2Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- 3Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- 4Department of Radiology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- 5Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- 6Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, University of Vermont, Colchester, Vermont, USA
- 7Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Correspondence to Dr D A Bluemke, Radiology and Imaging Sciences (RAD&IS); 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg 10/Rm 1C355, National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; bluemked{at}nih.gov
- Accepted 29 September 2009
- Published Online First 26 October 2009
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the association of physical activity with left ventricular structure and function in the general population in a community setting.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a population-based study of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Participants: A multiethnic sample of 4992 participants (aged 45–84 years; 52% female) free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease.
Interventions: Physical activity induces beneficial physiological cardiac remodelling in a cross-sectional study of non-athlete individuals.
Main Outcome Measures: Left ventricular mass, volumes and function were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Physical activity, defined as intentional exercise and total moderate and vigorous physical activity, was assessed by a standard semiquantitative questionnaire.
Results: Left ventricular mass and end-diastolic volume were positively associated with physical activity (eg, 1.4 g/m2 (women) and 3.1 g/m2 (men) greater left ventricular mass in the highest category of intentional exercise compared with individuals reporting no intentional exercise; p = 0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). Relationships were non-linear, with stronger positive associations at lower levels of physical activity (test for non-linearity; p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Cardiac output and ejection fraction were unchanged with increased physical activity levels. Resting heart rate was lower in women and men with higher physical activity levels (eg, −2.6 beats/minute lower resting heart rate in the highest category of intentional exercise compared with individuals reporting no intentional exercise; p<0.001).
Conclusions: In a community-based population free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease, higher physical activity levels were associated with proportionally greater left ventricular mass and end-diastolic volume and lower resting heart rate.
Footnotes
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Funding This research was supported by contracts N01-HC-95159 to N01-HC-95165 and N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
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Competing interests None.
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Ethics approval The institutional review boards at all participating centres approved the study.
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Patient consent Obtained.
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Provenance and Peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
