Prevention & lipidsCross-sectional study
Coronary artery calcification and high-volume physical activity: role of lower intensity vs. longer duration of exercise
- Cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Elevated CAC was associated with lower average intensity and longer duration of PA in men, providing new insight into the complex relationship between leisure-time PA behaviours and risk of CAC.
Study context
- Population
- Apparently healthy men who completed a physical activity (PA) questionnaire and underwent coronary artery calcification (CAC) scanning at a preventive examination
- Participants
- 23,383 men
- Exposure
- Average intensity vs Weekly duration
- Outcome
- Mean CAC and CAC ≥ 100 AU
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CAC by PA intensity and duration
Average intensityMean CAC change, %/MET (95% CI)
higher intensity, lower mean CAC
−3.1(−4.6 to −1.6)
Average intensityRelative risk, /MET (95% CI)
CAC ≥ 100 AU
0.99(0.98–1.00)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cohort CAC
- Mean CAC, Agatston units (AU) (SD 543.6)
- 174.8
- CAC ≥ 100 AU
- 23.5%
- Mean age, years (SD 8.3)
- 51.7
Original publication
Coronary artery calcification and high-volume physical activity: role of lower intensity vs. longer duration of exercise. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 23 April 2024. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwae150
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it