Abstract 2476: Regular Physical Activity Prevents the Development of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Young Stage 1 Hypertensive Subjects: Results of the Harvest Study

Abstract

A beneficial effect of physical activity on left ventricular mass( LVM) in the short term has been described in hypertension. Aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of regular physical activity on development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in a cohort of young hypertensive subjects. We studied 454 participants (317 men, mean age 33±8 years) without LVH at baseline whose physical activity status was consistent throughout the follow-up. BP was 146±11/94±5 mm Hg at baseline and 141±/90±8 mmHg after 3 months of non-pharmacological measures. Subjects were divided into 3 categories of physical activity (sedentary, n=281;leisure-time activities, n=140; competitive sports, n=33). Patients were seen every six months until they developed hypertension. Echocardiographic LVM was measured at entry, every 5 years, and/or at the time of hypertension development. Active subjects were younger (31±8 versus 34±8 years, p=.000) and leaner (24.4±3.0 vs 25.2±3.7 Kg/m2, p=.006) than sedentary ones, and were more frequently male (45% versus 22%, p=.000). During a median follow-up of 8.2 years, 32 subjects(7.3%) developed LVH (sedentary=10.3%, leisure-time activities=2.1%, competitive sports= 0%, p=.002). In a logistic regression, physically active groups combined (n=173) were less likely to develop LVH than the sedentary group with a crude OR=0.16 (CI, 0.05– 0.55). After controlling for sex, age, family history for hypertension, body weight, smoking, alcohol and coffee use, blood pressure, LVM, and follow-up time, the OR was 0.22 (CI, 0.06 – 0.77). BP declined over time in physically active subjects (−5.1±17.0/−0.5±10.2 mmHg) and slightly increased in sedentary ones (0.0±15.3/0.9±9.7 mmHg, adjusted p versus active=0.04/0.06). Inclusion of changes in BP over time into the logistic model slightly decreased the strength of the association between physical activity status and LVH development (OR=0.24,CI, 0.07– 0.85). Regular physical activity prevents the development of LVH in young stage 1 hypertensive subjects. Leisure-time and competitive sports activities seem to have both a beneficial effect on LVM. This effect is only partially dependent on the reduction in BP caused by exercise.

The relationship between hypertension and physical activity in middle-aged and older adults controlling for demographic, chronic disease, and mental health variables

“…Physical exercise has been proved to improve human health, cardiovascular function, respiratory function and motor system function, and thus reduce the risk of high blood pressure in the middle-aged and elderly. [37,38] Mos L et al [39] recruited 454 hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy and evaluated the long-term effect of regular PA on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive subjects. The study concluded that regular PA could prevent left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive subjects, and both leisure and competitive sports activities could have a positive impact on left ventricular quality in hypertensive subjects.…”