Lifelong physical activity and cardiovascular autonomic function in midlife

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p><em>Purpose:</em> Physical activity (PA) associates with cardiovascular autonomic function but the relationship with lifelong PA is unclear. We hypothesized that lifelong PA would associate with cardiovascular autonomic function in mid-life.</p><p><em>Methods:</em> At the age of 46, the subjects of the prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 were invited to examinations where vagally-mediated heart rate variability (rMSSD) and cross-spectral baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were analysed from 3-min recordings of ECG and blood pressure in seated and standing positions. Three lifelong PA trajectory groups (active, semi-active and inactive) were formed according to their self-reported frequencies of participation in PA at the ages of 14, 31 and 46. Finally, 1,283 men and 1,779 women without cardiorespiratory diseases and diabetes had complete data on lifelong PA, covariates and rMSSD, and 662 men and 807 women for BRS.</p><p><em>Results:</em> In both sexes and measurement conditions, the active (p<0.01) and semi-active groups (p<0.05) had greater rMSSD than the inactive group, and the highest BRS was observed in the active group (ANOVA p=0.001–0.032). In men, these differences were not significant when adjusted for 46-year lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, and sitting time), body mass index, waist-hip-ratio, blood pressure, lipid and glucose status. In women, lifelong PA remained a significant independent determinant of seated and standing rMSSD and standing BRS.</p><p><em>Conclusion:</em> Higher lifelong PA was associated with better cardiovascular autonomic function in mid-life. In women, this effect was independent but in men, it seemed to be mediated by the other lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors.</p></div>