Sensor‐measured physical activity is associated with decreased cardiovascular disease risk in African Americans

Abstract

Introduction Few studies have examined relationships between sensor‐measured physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among African Americans. This study described relationships between PA and CVD risk in NEW Soul study participants. Methods Participants completed a dual X‐ray absorptiometry scan and measures of blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, height, and weight. Actigraph GTM accelerometers measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). We assessed relationships between minutes/day of MVPA and total body fat percent, total lean body mass, total fat mass, total bone mass, total fat distribution, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist‐to‐hip ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and education. Results Participants (N = 159) were mostly women (79%), overweight/obese (99%), and had stage 1 or 2 hypertension (60%). Participants’ means ± SD for MVPA were 14.3 ± 12.5 min/day, total body fat percent 44.6% ± 7.5%, total lean body mass 54.7 ± 10.5 kg, systolic blood pressure 133.5 ± 16.7 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure 83.1 ± 9.6 mmHg, waist‐to‐hip ratio 0.9 ± 0.1, and BMI 36.9 ± 6.9 kg/m2. Every 10‐min increase in MVPA minutes per day was associated with a 1.2 kg kg/m2 decrease in BMI (t = –P = .02) and 2.0% decrease in total body fat percent (P ≤ .0001). MVPA also was negatively associated with total fat mass (P = .002) and total fat distribution (P = .003). Conclusions Findings confirmed protective relationships between PA and CVD risk, suggesting the importance of increasing PA among African Americans.