QOL14
The Relationship between Vascular Comorbidities and Physical Activity in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
Vascular comorbidities are prevalent among persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and associated with increased risk of disease progression. Previous literature has shown that physical activity (PA) was inversely associated with self-reported cardiovascular comorbidity symptoms and risk factors, subclinical markers of atherosclerosis, and overall number of comorbidities in PwMS. However, no studies have reported the relationship between PA levels and diagnosed vascular comorbidities in PwMS.
Objectives:
To 1) explore the relationship between vascular comorbidities and different aspects of PA in PwMS, and 2) present the prevalence of vascular comorbidities based on PA category in PwMS.
Methods:
PwMS (n=183) participated in a cross-sectional study at a comprehensive MS center. The following variables were collected: demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), disability (patient determined disease steps: PDDS) disease duration, Body Mass index (BMI), self-reported PA levels (IPAQ-LF), and diagnosis of vascular comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, peripheral vascular disease, and heart disease). The IPAQ-LF was used to determine: PA category (Low, Moderate, or High), Total Sitting (min/week), and Total PA, Walking PA, Moderate PA, and Vigorous PA Sub-scores (MET/min/week). Differences in all variables collected were compared between PwMS with vascular comorbidities (n=78) and PwMS without (n=105). The prevalence of vascular comorbidities was reported for each category of PA.
Results:
There were no differences in gender, race, ethnicity, disease duration, PDDS, Total PA, Moderate PA, Total sitting, and PA Category; however, PwMS with vascular comorbidities were older (p<0.001), had a higher BMI (p=0.001), and had decreased Walking (p=0.005) and Vigorous PA Sub-scores (p=0.010). Overall vascular comorbidities were present in 42.6% of the PwMS and in 43.6% of PwMS categorized as Low PA, 50.0% for Moderate PA, and 35.1% for High PA.
Conclusions:
The findings here demonstrate that PwMS with Vascular comorbidities tend to walk less and perform less vigorous PA throughout the week. Vascular comorbidities were prevalent in each PA category, therefore looking at the type of PA may be more useful in determining the relationship between vascular comorbidity and PA in PwMS. These results can be used to inform clinicians on what type of PA needs to increase in PwMS with vascular comorbidities and guide future interventional studies.