PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN A MIDDLE-AGED URBAN ITALIAN POPULATION
Abstract number: P-W-562
Sofi1 F., Capalbo2 A., Cesari1 F., Marcucci1 R., Gori1 A., Fedi1 S., Casini3 A., Surrenti3 C., Abbate1 R., Gensini4 G.
11Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi 22Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Institute of Sports Medicine 33Clinical Pathophysiology, Unit of Clinical Nutrition, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi 44Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
How-to-cite Sofi F, Capalbo A, Cesari F, Marcucci R, Gori A, Fedi S, Casini A, Surrenti C, Abbate R, Gensini G. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN A MIDDLE-AGED URBAN ITALIAN POPULATION. J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 Supplement 2: P-W-562
Abstract
Introduction: A large number of studies demonstrated that a regular physical activity accounts for a significant protection against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the mechanisms through which this protection is determined are not completely established. Aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of a different amount of regular physical activity during the leisure-time (LTPA) and at work (occupational physical activity: OPA) on circulating levels of several biomarkers associated with an increased risk of CVD
Methods: We studied 932 individuals (365 M; 567 F, with a mean age of 54 years) living in Florence, Italy who were enrolled in a population study conducted between 2002 and 2004.
Results: Subjects were divided into 3 classes of LTPA and OPA according to the amount of physical activity performed. LTPA was inversely related to BMI, hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and triglycerides, as well as directly correlated with HDL-cholesterol and vitamin B6. Likewise, a higher level of physical activity at work was found to be associated with higher HDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for possible confounders showed that a moderate-to-high intensity of LTPA was able to confer a significant protection against having abnormal levels of BMI, waist circumference and triglycerides, main features of the metabolic syndrome, whereas no associations with OPA were observed.
Conclusions: A moderate-to-high LTPA was found to be significantly associated with a more favourable cardiovascular profile in terms of anthropometric, metabolic, lipid and vitamins' circulating levels among a middle-aged urban Italian population. In addition, a relationship between higher level of OPA and HDL-cholesterol was reported.
