Objectively measured physical activity and cardiac biomarkers: A cross sectional population based study in older men

Factors Associated With Fatigue in Persons With Atrial Fibrillation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia affecting over 6 million people in the U.S. Fatigue is a frequent symptom of AF, yet no underlying biological mechanisms have been identified in AF-related fatigue as in other chronic conditions such as cancer or HIV fatigue (inflammation, tissue injury). We aimed to identify biomarkers and correlates of AF-fatigue in ARIC participants.

METHODS

Participants with AF from ARIC visit 5 (2011-2013) were included in the study. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association of high sensitivity troponin (hs-TnT), N-terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels with self-reported fatigue (SF-12 and PROMIS Fatigue Scale), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression survey), and physical functioning (Short Physical Performance Battery) scores. All biomarkers underwent natural-log transformation.

RESULTS

There were 446 participants (mean age: 78 y ± 5; 44% women). In adjusted analyses, NT-proBNP was associated with AF-fatigue (β: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.19), increased depressive symptoms (β: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.70), and decreased physical function (β: -0.48, 95% CI: -0.72, -0.23). Hs-TnT was also associated with elevated AF-fatigue (β: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.39) along with decreased physical function (β: -1.19, 95% CI: -1.64, -0.75). No significant associations were found with hsCRP and fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of cardiac injury biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and decreased physical function were associated with AF-fatigue. Inflammation was not associated with AF-fatigue; other physiological pathways, such as cardiac overload or myocardial injury may be more relevant in AF-fatigue.

Utilization of Wearable Pedometer Devices in the Perioperative Period: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Functional capacity assessment is important for perioperative risk stratification; however, there are currently limited options for objective and economical functional capacity evaluation. Pedometer functions are now widely available in mobile devices and offer a nonintrusive and objective approach to measuring patient activity level over time. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review to assess the value of pedometer readings in predicting perioperative outcomes. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science Citation Index for studies, which assessed the correlation between perioperative (30 days before to 30 days after surgery) pedometer data and perioperative outcomes. We identified a total of 18 studies for inclusion. Seven of the studies recorded preoperative pedometer data, and 13 studies recorded postoperative pedometer data. Notably, 10 of the studies covered oncologic surgery patients. The included studies consistently reported that preoperative pedometer readings correlated with postoperative complication rates. In addition, in-hospital postoperative pedometer readings correlated with postdischarge complications and readmissions. Perioperative pedometer data demonstrated consistent and biologically plausible association with perioperative outcomes. Further studies are needed to validate the use of pedometer in the perioperative period and to identify the optimal approach for its use to potentially improve patient outcomes.

Device-measured movement behaviors and cardiac biomarkers in older adults without major cardiovascular disease: the Seniors-ENRICA-2 study

BACKGROUND

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are biomarkers of myocardial infarction and heart failure, respectively, and indicate cardiovascular risk. Since low physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are also associated with higher cardiovascular risk, and this association could be a consequence of higher levels of cardiac biomarkers, we examined the association of device-measured movement behaviors with hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP in older men and women without major cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

We used data from 1939 older adults from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 study. Accelerometers were used to assess time spent in sleep, SB, light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Linear regression models were fitted separately in eight strata defined by sex, by median total PA time, and by the presence of subclinical cardiac damage according to cardiac biomarkers levels.

RESULTS

In the less active men with subclinical cardiac damage, spending 30 min/day more of MVPA was associated with a mean percentage difference (MPD) (95% confidence interval) in hs-cTnT of - 13.1 (- 18.3, - 7.5); MPDs in NT-proBNP per 30 min/day increment were 5.8 (2.7, 8.9) for SB, - 19.3 (- 25.4, - 12.7) for LPA and - 23.1 (- 30.7, - 14.6) for MVPA. In women with subclinical cardiac damage who were less physically active, 30 min/day more of SB, LPA and MVPA were associated with MPDs in hs-cTnT of 2.1 (0.7, 3.6), - 5.1 (- 8.3, - 1.7) and - 17.5 (- 22.9, - 11.7), respectively, whereas in those more active, LPA and MVPA were associated with MPDs of 4.1 (1.2, 7.2) and - 5.4 (- 8.7, - 2.0), respectively. No associations were found with NT-proBNP in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between movement behaviors and cardiac biomarkers in older adults without major CVD depends on sex, subclinical cardiac damage and PA level. More PA and less SB were generally related to lower cardiac biomarkers levels among less active individuals with subclinical cardiac damage, with greater benefits for hs-cTnT in women than men and no benefits for NT-proBNP in women.

Step Count, Self-reported Physical Activity, and Predicted 5-Year Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: Cross-sectional Analysis

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, present an opportunity to investigate the relation between daily step count and AF risk.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between daily step count and the predicted 5-year risk of AF.

METHODS

Participants from the electronic Framingham Heart Study used an Apple smartwatch. Individuals with diagnosed AF were excluded. Daily step count, watch wear time (hours and days), and self-reported physical activity data were collected. Individuals' 5-year risk of AF was estimated, using the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE)-AF score. The relation between daily step count and predicted 5-year AF risk was examined via linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, and wear time. Secondary analyses examined effect modification by sex and obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m²), as well as the relation between self-reported physical activity and predicted 5-year AF risk.

RESULTS

We examined 923 electronic Framingham Heart Study participants (age: mean 53, SD 9 years; female: n=563, 61%) who had a median daily step count of 7227 (IQR 5699-8970). Most participants (n=823, 89.2%) had a <2.5% CHARGE-AF risk. Every 1000 steps were associated with a 0.08% lower CHARGE-AF risk (P<.001). A stronger association was observed in men and individuals with obesity. In contrast, self-reported physical activity was not associated with CHARGE-AF risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher daily step counts were associated with a lower predicted 5-year risk of AF, and this relation was stronger in men and participants with obesity. The utility of a wearable daily step counter for AF risk reduction merits further investigation.

Accelerometer-derived physical activity and sedentary time and cardiac biomarkers: The Maastricht Study

Background

Cardiac troponins and NT-proBNP are biomarkers of cardiac injury that are used clinically in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and heart failure. It is not known whether the amount, types and patterns of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour are associated with levels of cardiac biomarkers.

Methods

In the population-based Maastricht Study (n = 2,370, 51.3% male, 28.3% T2D) we determined cardiac biomarkers hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT, and NT-proBNP. PA and sedentary time were measured by activPAL and divided into quartiles [quartile 1 (Q1) served as reference]. The weekly pattern of moderate-to-vigorous PA (insufficiently active; regularly actives; weekend warriors) and coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated. Linear regression analyses were conducted with adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

There was no consistent pattern between physical activity (different intensities: total, light, moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous) and sedentary time on the one hand and hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT on the other. Those with the highest levels of vigorous intensity PA had significantly lower levels of NT-proBNP. With regard to PA patterns, weekend warriors and regularly actives had lower levels of NT-proBNP but not with hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT (reference:insufficiently actives). A higher weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA CV (indicating more irregular activity) was associated with lower levels of hs-cTnI and higher levels of NT-proBNP, but not with hs-cTnT.

Conclusions

In general, there was no consistent association between PA and sedentary time and cardiac troponins. In contrast, vigorous and possibly moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA, especially if done regularly, were associated with lower levels of NT-proBNP.

Exercise Training Increases Serum Cardiac Troponin T Independent of Left Ventricular Mass

The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise training mediated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and whether this was associated with increases in left ventricular mass (LVM). Fifty-four sedentary obese women were randomised to high-intensity interval training (HIIT, repeated 4-min cycling at 90% V̇O_2max interspersed with 3-min rest), work-equivalent continuous aerobic training (CAT, continuous cycling at 60% V̇O_2max) or a control group (CON). Resting serum cTnT was assessed using a high-sensitivity assay before and after 12 weeks of training. LVM was determined from 2D echocardiography at the same timepoints. Both HIIT and CAT induced a similar elevation (median 3.07 to 3.76 ng.l^-1, p<0.05) in resting cTnT compared with pre-training and the CON (3.49 to 3.45 ng.l^-1, p>0.05). LVM index in HIIT increased (62.2±7.8 to 73.1±14.1 g.m^-2, p<0.05), but not in CAT (66.1±9.7 to 67.6±9.6 g.m^-2, p>0.05) and CON (67.9±9.5 to 70.2±9.1 g.m^-2, p>0.05). Training-induced changes in resting cTnT did not correlate with changes in LVM index (r=-0.025, p=0.857). These findings suggest that twelve weeks of either HIIT or CAT increased resting cTnT, but the effects were independent of any changes in LVM in sedentary obese women.

Personalised eHealth intervention to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in rehabilitation after cardiac operations: study protocol for the PACO randomised controlled trial (NCT03470246)

Introduction

Personalized intervention to increase physical Activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in rehabilitation after Cardiac Operations (PACO) is a smartphone-based and accelerometer-based eHealth intervention to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) among patients recovering from cardiac surgery.

Design

Prospective randomised controlled trial.

Methods and analysis

The present protocol describes a randomised controlled clinical trial to be conducted in the Heart Centres of Kuopio and Turku university hospitals. The trial comprises 540 patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement or mitral valve repair. The patients will be randomised into two groups. The control group will receive standard postsurgical rehabilitation guidance. The eHealth intervention group will be given the same guidance together with personalised PA guidance during 90 days after discharge. These patients will receive personalised daily goals to increase PA and reduce SB via the ExSedapplication. Triaxial accelerometers will be exploited to record patients' daily accumulated PA and SB, and transmit them to the application. Using the accelerometer data, the application will provide online guidance to the patients and feedback of accomplishing their activity goals. The data will also be transmitted to the cloud, where a physiotherapist can monitor individual activity profiles and customise the subsequent PA and SB goals online. The postoperative improvement in patients' step count, PA, exercise capacity, quality of sleep, laboratory markers, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters and quality of life, and reduction in SB and incidence of major cardiac events are investigated as outcomes.

Conclusions

The PACO intervention aims to build a personalised eHealth tool for the online tutoring of cardiac surgery patients.

Trial registration number

NCT03470246.