Cumulative accelerometer-based light physical activity from childhood through young adulthood with arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness progression: a 13-year longitudinal study
Authors: Agbaje A O , Barker A R , Lewandowski A J , Leeson P , Tomi-Pekka T P 
Published: November 2023

Background

Arterial stiffness is a novel risk factor for elevated blood pressure and hypertension in adolescents and young adults. Arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression have been associated with cardiovascular events in adult. It remains unclear whether engaging in light physical activity may attenuate arterial stiffness and cIMT progression.

Purpose

To investigate the longitudinal association of cumulative light physical activity from childhood through young adulthood with arterial stiffness and cIMT progression.

Methods

From the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), UK birth cohort, 1399 children aged 11 years who had at least two follow-up time-points accelerometer-measured sedentary time over 13 years follow-up, and complete cardiac structural measures at age 17 years clinic visit were included. Light physical activity was assessed with ActiGraph accelerometer worn for 4-7 days at the 11-, 15-, and 24-year clinic visits and sex-categorized in tertiles as low (reference), moderate, and high. Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, and cIMT were assessed with Vicorder and ultrasound, respectively at ages 17 and 24 years. Multivariable adjusted associations were examined using generalized linear mixed-effect models and adjusted for sex, and time-varying covariates measured at both baseline and follow-up such as age, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, glucose, fat mass, lean mass, smoking status, family history of hypertension/diabetes/high cholesterol/vascular disease, socioeconomic status, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, sedentary time, and moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Results

Among 1339 participants (mean [SD] age, 11.75 [0.24] years; [54.6% females]) males spent on average 369, 289, and 150 mins/day engaging in light physical activity at ages 11, 15, and 24 years, respectively. Females spent 366, 270, and 154 mins/day engaging in light physical activity at ages 11, 15, and 24 years respectively. cfPWV was significantly higher among males than females at ages 17 and 24 years. cIMT was higher in males than females at 17 years but not at age 24 years. In a fully adjusted model, the highest tertile of light physical activity from ages 11 – 24 years was cumulatively associated with progressively decreased changes in cfPWV (effect estimate -0.024m/s [CI -0.028 – -0.017] p&lt;0.001) from ages 17 – 24 years in the total cohort, males (-0.022m/s [CI -0.044 – -0.010] p&lt;0.001), and females (-0.027m/s [CI -0.044 – -0.010] p=0.002). There was no statistically significant association between cumulative light physical activity and cIMT in the total cohort, males, and females.

Conclusion

Persistent highest tertile of light physical activity from childhood through young adulthood was associated with decreased arterial stiffness progression.