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Physical activity program fails to reduce CV events in older adults
A moderate-intensity physical activity program did not significantly reduce CV illness and death among frail older adults, according to findings published in JAMA Cardiology confirming previously presented results.
Results from the LIFE study of aerobically based moderate physical activity showed that although physical activity intervention has been previously linked to prevention of mobility disability, it was not associated with reduced CV events.
“It is possible that the dose of activity was of suboptimal duration or intensity. Given the high burden of CVD, it is also possible that it was too late for this high-risk group to benefit,” Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH, professor and chair of the department of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and colleagues wrote.
The multicenter, single blind, randomized LIFE study was conducted at eight centers across the United States between February 2010 and December 2013 (n = 1,635; 67% women; mean age, 79 years; 74% non-Latino white). Newman presented the findings at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in November 2014.
According to the researchers, participants were randomly assigned to physical activity or to a successful aging program via an internet-based data management system, which used a permuted block algorithm, arranged by field center and sex. Each group received a 45-minute introductory session by a health educator who detailed the intervention, mapped out expected outcomes of the study and answered questions.
New CVD events, including fatal and nonfatal MI, stroke, angina, transient ischemic attack and peripheral artery disease, occurred in 14.8% of patients enrolled in the physical activity cohort and in 13.8% of patients in the successful-aging program group (HR = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.85-1.42).
Rates of focused combined outcomes of MI, stroke or CV death were 4.6% in the physical activity group and 4.5% in the successful-aging group (HR =1.05; 95% CI, 0.67-1.66).
There was no difference in CVD rates between the groups in patients with a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 7 or less (physical activity, 14.2%; successful aging, 17.7%; HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.52-1.1), but among those with a score of 8 or 9, there were more CVD events in the physical activity group (15.3% vs. 10.5%; HR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.09-2.3; P for interaction = .006), according to Newman and colleagues.
“Guidelines for physical activity for older adults include at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity with weight training. The LIFE intervention meets those guidelines and proved to be safe and efficacious for the prevention of major mobility and disability,” the researchers wrote. “The lack of association between increased physical activity and CVD found here should not detract from efforts to promote a program of sustained walking and weight training in frail older adults.” – by Dave Quaile
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.