Jones, Siana Hepburn; Park, Chloe; Chiesa, Scott T; Chaturvedi, Nishi; Hughes, Alun D; (2024) The Impact Of Physical Activity In Adolescence On Cardiovascular Health In Early Adulthood 2018. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise , 56 (10(S)) pp. 691-692. 10.1249/01.mss.0001058576.93194.ed.

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can improve cardiovascular (CV) health. The aim of this analyses was to establish whether there are long-lasting independent effects of MVPA throughout adolescence on cardiac structure and peripheral measures of CV health in adult life. // METHODS: Participants enrolled in a UK birth cohort undertook measures of physical activity at 11, 13, 15 and 24 years old using a hip-worn accelerometer, MVPA (minutes/day) was derived. Cardiac structure (left ventricular (LV) mass and remodelling index (LV mass/LV end diastolic volume)) was measured at age 24 using echocardiography. Peripheral CV health outcomes, aortic and brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse wave velocity, were measured at 24. Structural equation modelling was used to compare associations between MVPA measured at each age and CV health at 24 within the same model. Direct and indirect effects of MVPA at each age on CV health are presented. The full information maximum likelihood method was used to account for missingness. Maternal socioeconomic group and sex were included in models as covariates. Skewed MVPA data were log transformed. // RESULTS: Participants who underwent echocardiography at 24 and PA assessment at ≥3 time-points were included (n = 1123, 405 male). After adjustment for MVPA at each age, only MVPA at 24 was associated with greater LV mass index. MVPA was not associated with LV remodelling index at 24 (Table 1). There were direct effects of MVPA at ages 13 and 24, and indirect effects of MVPA at age 11, on brachial and aortic SBP at 24 (Table 1). // CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that MVPA at age 13 is associated with lower aortic and brachial SBP in adult life, even after current activity status is accounted for, implying that exercise in early adolescence has long-term benefits for BP in adulthood. These data also show that increased MVPA at age 24 is associated with a greater LV mass but without adverse LV remodelling.

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