Relationship between changes in physical fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes

According to a recent study, involving in physical fitness predicts favorable changes in cardiovascular risk profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study’s findings were published in the journal, Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews.

This study was a pre-specified ancillary analysis of a 3-year randomized clinical trial that included 267 physically inactive and sedentary patients. The participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a one-month theoretical and practical counselling each year or standard care. Various parameters such as mean changes in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity[SB1]  (MVPA) from baseline throughout the study period, decrease sedentary-time[SB2]  (SED-time), muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), cardiovascular risk factors and scores were measured.

It was observed that hemoglobin (Hb) A1c and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk scores were decreased with quartiles of VO2max and lower body muscle strength changes. As per the multivariable regression analysis, increases in VO2max independently predicted decreases in HbA1c, diastolic blood pressure (BP), CHD, blood glucose, and total stroke 10-year risk and increases in HDL cholesterol. On the other hand, increases in lower body muscle strength independently predicted decreases in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic BP, triglycerides, CHD, and fatal stroke 10-year risk.

Based on the above findings, it may be concluded that improvement in physical fitness can predict favorable changes in cardiometabolic risk profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.