Relationship Between the Change in Daily Step Count and Brachial-Ankle Wave Velocity During a Pedometer-Based Physical Activity Program for Older Adults

Objective: To study the relationship between the change in the number of steps taken and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) during a long-term pedometer-based physical activity program in healthy older adults. Methods: Sixty older adults participated in this 17-week program. Each subject was provided with a pedometer and was given a goal to walk a set number of steps/day. After five subjects were excluded because of insufficient step data, data from 55 subjects (19 men and 36 women; age range: 65–79 years, mean age: 71.3±3.7 years; mean body mass index [BMI]: 24.1±8.8 kg/m 2 ) were analyzed. Subjects were checked before and after the study. Each subject was informed of his or her vascular age, calculated from baPWV, at the start of the study. Results: Subjects were divided into four groups based on the results of baPWV. The group in which baPWV improved above a selected cut-off value (1,700 cm/s) revealed the largest increase in steps/day among groups. This increase (4837.7±1868.7 steps) was larger than in groups in which baPWV remained low (1406.7±2402.1 steps, p=0.036) and high (1678.2±2871.4 steps, p=0.059). In any group, age or initial steps/day did not influence the change in steps. Subjects classified as having an older vascular age than the actual age on the basis of initial baPWV walked further. Conclusion: An increase in steps/day might improve baPWV. Although walking is a low intensity physical activity, it can have an anti-atherosclerosis effect.