Low physical activity is associated with impaired endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes and controls after 5 years of follow-up

Abstract Background The long-term association between physical activity and endothelial function has not previously been investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and endothelial function, assessed by peripheral arterial...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jonathan Mathias Baier, Kristian Løkke Funck, Liv Vernstrøm, Esben Laugesen, Per Løgstrup Poulsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-09-01
Series:BMC Endocrine Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-021-00857-9
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Summary:Abstract Background The long-term association between physical activity and endothelial function has not previously been investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and endothelial function, assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry, in patients with type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic controls after 5 years of follow-up. Methods We included 51 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 53 sex- and age matched controls. Participants underwent baseline clinical characterization including objective measurement of physical activity level using accelerometery. After 5 years of follow-up, participants were re-examined, and endothelial function was assessed as natural logarithm of reactive hyperemia index (lnRHI). Results Physical activity at baseline was associated with lnRHI after 5 years of follow-up in both patients with type 2 diabetes and controls. An increase of 1 standard deviation (SD) in daytime physical activity corresponded to a 6.7 % increase in RHI (95 % confidence interval: 1.1;12.5 %, p = 0.02). We found no difference in lnRHI between patients with diabetes and controls (0.67 ± 0.29 vs. 0.73 ± 0.31, p = 0.28). Conclusions Daytime physical activity is associated with endothelial function after 5 years of follow-up in patients with type 2 diabetes and controls.
ISSN:1472-6823