Relative Importance of Step Count, Intensity, and Duration on Physical Activity's Impact on Vascular Structure and Function in Previously Sedentary Older Adults

Abstract

Background Age‐related endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffening are associated with increased cardiovascular ( CV ) risk. Many groups have encouraged goals of ≥10 000 steps/day or ≥30 min/day of moderate intensity physical activity ( MPA ) to reduce age‐related CV risk. The impact of MPA on the vasculature of older adults remains unclear. Methods and Results We randomized 114 sedentary older adults ages ≥50 to 12 weeks of either no intervention (group 1), a pedometer‐only intervention (group 2), or a pedometer with an interactive website employing strategies to increase the adoption of habitual physical activity ( PA , group 3). Endothelial function by brachial flow‐mediated dilation ( FMD %), vascular stiffness by tonometry, step‐count by pedometer, and PA intensity/distribution by accelerometer were measured. Step‐count increased in groups 2 (5136±1554 to 9596±3907, P <0.001) and 3 (5474±1512 to 8167±3111, P <0.001) but not in group 1 (4931±1667 to 5410±2410). Both groups 2 and 3 increased MPA ≥30 min/day. Only group 3 increased MPA in continuous bouts of ≥10 minutes ( P <0.001) and improved FMD % ( P =0.001). Neither achievement of ≥10 000 steps/day nor ≥30 min/day of MPA resulted in improved FMD %. However, achieving ≥20 min/day in MPA bouts resulted in improved FMD %. No changes in vascular stiffness were observed. Conclusions MPA reverses age‐related endothelial dysfunction, but may require MPA to be performed in bouts of ≥10 minutes duration for ≥20 min/day to be effective. Commonly encouraged PA goals do not guarantee improved endothelial function and may not be as effective in reducing CV risk. Clinical Trial Registration URL: Clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT‐01212978.