By Colin Kenny, GP, County Down
Considerable data were gathered from the NAVIGATOR trial. In the study, 9306 individuals with impaired glucose tolerance were recruited. As well as impaired glucose tolerance participants had either existing cardiovascular disease or at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor. Participants were followed up for cardiovascular events (defined as cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal stroke or non-fatal myocardial infarction) for 6 years on average. Ambulatory activity was assessed objectively by a pedometer at baseline and 12 months.
During 45,211 person-years’ follow-up, 531 cardiovascular events occurred. This study showed that both baseline ambulatory activity and change in ambulatory activity over 12 months were associated independently with the risk of a cardiovascular event in the ensuing 5 years. This meant that for every 2000 steps per day increment in ambulatory activity at baseline, there was an associated 10% lower risk of a cardiovascular event. These findings strengthen the evidence showing the importance of physical activity in the promotion of cardiovascular health and appear to have important implications for the people we see who have impaired glucose regulation.
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