Better diastolic function in adolescents is associated with vigorous physical activity, independently of lesser intensities and adiposity

Research output: Contribution to conference typesAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Background/Aims: The relationship between physical activity (PA) and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) has not been well studied in adolescents. We assessed the associations of different PA intensities with LVDF, accounting for the well-known effect of adiposity.
Methods: Wrist-worn accelerometery was used in 12–17-yearolds with (n=33; body mass index [BMI] z-score=0.1±0.6SD) and without (n=36; BMI z-score=2.1±0.6SD) overweight/obesity. LVDF and adiposity were assessed by echocardiography and bioelectrical impedance analysis, respectively. Multivariable regression was used to compare the independent effects of PA intensities and adiposity with LVDF, controlling for age, sex and Tanner score.
Results: Vigorous PA (VPA), but not lesser intensities or adiposity, was associated with better LVDF. Tissue Doppler measures were better than other measures at detecting this association, with septal early-to-late diastolic peak velocity ratio being most strongly associated (r=0.43, p=0.004). The inverse association of adiposity with LVDF did not persist when the PA measures were included in the model.
Conclusion: VPA is the only intensity that is associated with better LVDF in adolescents, independent of lesser intensities and adiposity. This supports our recent findings that only VPA was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and our recent meta-analysis showing septal tissue Doppler to be more sensitive than other LVDF measures in detecting the impact of cardiometabolic risk on adolescent health. The finding that adiposity no longer associates with LVDF when VPA is accounted for deserves further investigation, as it suggests vigorous exercise may protect against the adverse cardiac effects of obesity in the young.

Conflict of Interest: None disclosed.
Funding: Research relating to this abstract was part of the OxSOCRATES Study (NCT04118543). Dr Jones is supported by a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship (FS/18/22/33479). Mr Burden is supported by the Professor Nigel Groome Studentship scheme (Oxford Brookes University). Dr Weedon was supported by the BHF grant held by Dr Jones. Dr Gunawan is supported by the Indonesian Education Scholarship Program (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the BHF.
Original languageEnglish
Pages4
Number of pages1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2022
EventEuropean Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) - 31st Annual Conference - Vichy, France
Duration: 2 Nov 20222 Nov 2022

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) - 31st Annual Conference
Period2/11/20222/11/2022

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