Predictors of endothelial function in employees with sedentary occupations in a worksite exercise program

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Occupational Health
• Endothelial Function Research

Background:

• Sedentary workforces face elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• Worksite exercise interventions are proposed but their impact on endothelial function, a key CVD biomarker, remains under-explored.
• The relationship between exercise, endothelial health, and factors like weight and lipid profiles needs clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a worksite exercise program on endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
• To examine the association of exercise with changes in cardiovascular risk factors, including weight, lipids, and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).
• To identify predictors of improved endothelial function in a sedentary employee population.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-two employees participated in a 3-month worksite exercise program.
• Assessments included vital signs, blood lipid profiles, peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)), and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
• Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were quantified using colony assays.

Main Results:

• The exercise program significantly improved FMD (p=0.0096) and peak VO(2) (p=0.0028).
• Participants showed reductions in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.0478), total cholesterol (p=0.0131), and LDL cholesterol (p=0.0044).
• Weight reduction was marginal (p=0.0565) and not a predictor of improved endothelial function; however, lower baseline FMD, age, lipid/BP changes, and increased EPCs/VO(2) predicted FMD improvement.

Conclusions:

• Daily, achievable worksite exercise enhances endothelial function in sedentary employees.
• Improvements in endothelial function occur independently of significant weight loss.
• This intervention holds potential for sustained cardiovascular risk reduction in occupational settings.