Device-measured movement behaviors and cardiac biomarkers in older adults without major cardiovascular disease: the Seniors-ENRICA-2 study

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are biomarkers of myocardial infarction and heart failure, respectively, and indicate cardiovascular risk. Since low physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are also associated with higher cardiovascular risk, and this association could be a consequence of higher levels of cardiac biomarkers, we examined the association of device-measured movement behaviors with hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP in older men and women without major cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: We used data from 1939 older adults from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 study. Accelerometers were used to assess time spent in sleep, SB, light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Linear regression models were fitted separately in eight strata defined by sex, by median total PA time, and by the presence of subclinical cardiac damage according to cardiac biomarkers levels.

Results: In the less active men with subclinical cardiac damage, spending 30 min/day more of MVPA was associated with a mean percentage difference (MPD) (95% confidence interval) in hs-cTnT of - 13.1 (- 18.3, - 7.5); MPDs in NT-proBNP per 30 min/day increment were 5.8 (2.7, 8.9) for SB, - 19.3 (- 25.4, - 12.7) for LPA and - 23.1 (- 30.7, - 14.6) for MVPA. In women with subclinical cardiac damage who were less physically active, 30 min/day more of SB, LPA and MVPA were associated with MPDs in hs-cTnT of 2.1 (0.7, 3.6), - 5.1 (- 8.3, - 1.7) and - 17.5 (- 22.9, - 11.7), respectively, whereas in those more active, LPA and MVPA were associated with MPDs of 4.1 (1.2, 7.2) and - 5.4 (- 8.7, - 2.0), respectively. No associations were found with NT-proBNP in women.

Conclusions: The relationship between movement behaviors and cardiac biomarkers in older adults without major CVD depends on sex, subclinical cardiac damage and PA level. More PA and less SB were generally related to lower cardiac biomarkers levels among less active individuals with subclinical cardiac damage, with greater benefits for hs-cTnT in women than men and no benefits for NT-proBNP in women.