To strengthen public health in the 21st century, heart failure (HF) prevention is currently in the spotlight, and groundbreaking research has uncovered a potentially transformative approach. The Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women (OPACH) study, conducted from March 2012 to April 2014, investigated accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) in older women; A compelling link between sedentary time and the development of heart failure has been uncovered, providing the following insights: HF subtypes – preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
The study results were published in JAMA Cardiology.
Heart failure (HF) has become a significant challenge for America’s aging population, particularly affecting women, older adults, and diverse groups. The lack of a clear treatment for preserved EF (HFpEF) highlights the importance of HF prevention. The Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) study utilized accelerometer-measured physical activity to examine its association with overall her HF, HFpEF, and HFrEF in older women. aims to address the gap in The study’s hypotheses suggest that higher physical activity levels are associated with a lower risk of heart failure, whereas increased sedentary time is correlated with a higher risk of heart failure.
The cohort consisted of 5,951 women aged 63 to 99 without heart failure who embarked on a seven-day journey wearing three-axis accelerometers worn around their waists. The follow-up investigation of the case HF was extended until February 2022, and a wealth of data and connections were uncovered. The study examined various aspects of daily physical activity, including total physical activity, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), as well as sedentary behavior, including steps taken, total sitting time and mean bout duration. analyzes and provides nuanced insights into the prevention of heart failure.
Investigation result:
- Among a racially and ethnically diverse cohort consisting of non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white women, 407 HF cases surfaced during an average follow-up of 7.5 years, of which 257 patients were classified as HFpEF and 110 as HFrEF.
- The fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) in this study highlights the impact of physical activity on heart failure prevention.
- A 1 standard deviation increase in total PA in minutes per day was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.95) for overall HF, 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0.91), and 1.02 (95% CI) for HFpEF. This is an amazing HR. , 0.81-1.28) for HFrEF.
- Steps per day and total sedentary time also showed significant associations with HF subtype.
- The study’s cubic spline curve paints a vivid picture, highlighting the importance of total PA and steps per day.
- An inverse relationship was evident, indicating that increased physical activity was correlated with a decreased risk of overall HF and HFpEF.
- Conversely, total sedentary time showed a positive correlation, highlighting the potential risks of prolonged inactivity.
- Light PA and MVPA emerged as champions in the fight against HF and showed inverse associations with overall HF and HFpEF.
This highlights the role of different intensities of physical activity in preventing heart failure in older women. These findings have profound implications and suggest that a strategic focus on increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time may serve as a powerful strategy for primary prevention of HFpEF. Suggests. As public health debates around heart failure prevention intensify, this study provides practical insights that could have a major impact on cardiovascular resilience and promote healthy aging in older women. .
Further information: LaMonte MJ, LaCroix AZ, Nguyen S, et al. Accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary time, and heart failure risk in women aged 63 to 99 years. JAMA Cardiol. Published online on February 21, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.5692
