Physical activity can reduce the risk of heart damage

TAKING part in physical activity can lower the risk of heart damage in older adults and reduce the levels of heart damage in people who are obese, according to new research published in the journal JACC: Heart Failure.

Led by Dr Roberta Florido, a cardiology fellow at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the study looked at 9,427 patients aged from 45 years to 64 years who has no cardiovascular disease, and with a body mass index of more than 18.5.

The team measured levels of physical activity using a questionnaire and classed activity levels according to current guidelines such as ‘recommended’ (at least 75 minutes per week of vigorous intensity, or at least 150 minutes per week of a combination of moderate to vigorous intensity), ‘intermediate’ ( below 75 minutes per week of vigorous intensity or below 150 minutes of a combination of moderate to vigorous intensity), or ‘poor’ (no moderate to vigorous exercise).

To measure heart damage, the researchers measured the levels of a biomarker named high sensitivity troponin T.

Elevated levels of the biomarker indicate possible heart damage, and have been shown to be associated with future heart failure.

The results showed that those with lower levels of physical activity were significantly more likely to have elevated levels of high sensitivity troponin T, suggesting higher heart damage.

The researchers found that participants with poor and intermediate levels of physical activity were 39% and 34% more likely to have heart damage than those who engaged in recommended levels of physical activity.

In addition, the team also looked at the effect of physical activity on participants who were obese, with obesity shown previously to be strongly associated with elevated levels of high sensitivity troponin T, and a significantly increased risk of future heart failure.

They found a significant link between poor levels of exercise in obese participants and high levels of sensitivity troponin T, whereas those who engaged in recommended levels of physical activity were less likely to have elevated levels of high sensitivity troponin T, suggesting that physical activity can reduce the risk of heart damage in those with obesity, a group at particularly high risk for future heart failure.

Florido now recommends that “promoting physical activity may be a particularly important strategy for heart failure risk reductions among high risk groups such as those with obesity”, with Drs Tariq Ahmad and Jeffrey M. Testani, in an accompanying editorial, encouraging cardiologists to promote healthy habits rather than just treating heart failure once it has developed. – AFPRelaxnews