Accelerated Physical Activity Found to Shield Older Women from Heart Failure in new study
In a bid to enhance public health in
the 21st century, the spotlight is now on preventing heart failure (HF), and a
groundbreaking study sheds light on a potentially transformative approach. The
Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) in Older Women
study, conducted from March 2012 to April 2014, reveals a compelling link
between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary time, and
incident HF in older women, offering insights into HF subtypes—preserved
ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
The study results were published in
the journal JAMA Cardiology.
Heart failure (HF) poses a significant
challenge for the aging US population, especially impacting women, older
adults, and diverse groups. The lack of clear therapies for preserved EF
(HFpEF) underscores the importance of HF prevention. The Objective Physical
Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) study aims to address these gaps,
utilizing accelerometer-measured physical activity to explore associations with
incident overall HF, HFpEF, and HFrEF in older women. The study’s hypothesis
suggests that higher physical activity levels are associated with reduced HF
risk, while increased sedentary time correlates with higher HF risk.
The cohort, consisting of 5951 women
aged 63 to 99 years without known HF, embarked on a seven-day journey with
hip-worn triaxial accelerometry. Follow-up for incident HF extended through
February 2022, unraveling a wealth of data and associations.
The study, analyzing various facets of
daily PA such as total, light, and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), along with
steps taken, and sedentary behavior including total sedentary time and mean
bout duration, delivers nuanced insights into HF prevention.
Findings:
Among the racially and ethnically
diverse cohort—comprising non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White
women—407 HF cases surfaced during an average follow-up of 7.5 years, with 257
classified as HFpEF and 110 as HFrEF.-
The study’s fully adjusted hazard
ratios (HRs) underscore the impact of physical activity on HF prevention. -
A 1-standard deviation increment in
minutes per day of total PA yielded striking HRs of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.75-0.95)
for overall HF, 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67-0.91) for HFpEF, and 1.02 (95% CI,
0.81-1.28) for HFrEF. -
Steps per day and total sedentary time
also exhibited significant associations with HF subtypes.
The study’s cubic spline curves paint
a vivid picture, emphasizing the significance of total PA and steps per day.-
An inverse relationship is evident,
indicating that increased physical activity correlates with a decreased risk of
overall HF and HFpEF. -
Conversely, total sedentary time
showed a positive association, underlining the potential risks of prolonged
inactivity.
Light PA and MVPA emerged as champions
in the fight against HF, showcasing inverse associations with overall HF and
HFpEF.
This underscores the role of various intensities of physical activity in
preventing heart failure among older women.
These findings carry profound
implications, suggesting that a strategic focus on increasing physical activity
and reducing sedentary time could serve as a formidable strategy for primary
HFpEF prevention. As discussions surrounding heart failure prevention gain
momentum in public health, this study provides actionable insights that could
significantly impact cardiovascular resilience and foster healthy aging among
older women.
Further reading: LaMonte MJ, LaCroix AZ, Nguyen S, et al. Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Heart Failure Risk in Women Aged 63 to 99 Years. JAMA Cardiol. Published online February 21, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.5692
