Daily Step Count and its Association with Arterial Stiffness Parameters in Older Adults

Daily step count is a simple parameter for assessing physical activity. However, the potential advantages of setting daily step goals below the traditional 10,000-step threshold remain unclear. The cross-sectional study aimed to determine the relationship between daily step counts and arterial stiffness outcomes in older individuals.

Forty-eight older adults recorded their daily step counts over a 7-day period using a pedometer. The participants were classified into two groups based on their daily step count: Group 1 (n = 28) consisted of individuals taking fewer than 5000 steps per day, while Group 2 (n = 20) included those who recorded 5,000 to 9,999 steps per day. To evaluate arterial stiffness parameters, we measured pulse wave velocity (PWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Hemodynamic and biochemical parameters were also determined.

Participants who accumulated fewer daily steps exhibited higher PWV compared to each group. An inverse association was observed between average steps per day and PWV. However, no significant differences were found between daily step counts and CAVI or ABI.

Conclusions: As individuals increase their daily step count, they may experience a reduction in arterial stiffness. Consequently, the assessment of daily steps has benefits for enhancing vascular health and overall well-being among older individuals.