Physical activity characteristics in adults with bicuspid aortic valve versus age- and sex-matched controls

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Management of modifiable risk factors, including physical (in)activity, is therefore key. However, little is known about physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) characteristics in BAV individuals. Therefore, we compared objectively measured PA and SB characteristics between BAV individuals and controls.

100 BAV adults (45 ± 16 years; 59 % male) and 100 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. SB and PA characteristics were objectively assessed for 8 consecutive days using thigh-worn accelerometers. SB was comparable between BAV and control groups (9.3 [8.5-10.2] vs. 9.3 [8.2-10.2] hrs/day, p = 0.84), but time spent in MVPA (72 [59-89] vs. 98 [75-116] min/day, p < 0.001) and step count (4826 [4004-5801] vs. 6252 [4784-7484] steps/day, p < 0.001) were markedly lower in BAV individuals. BAV individuals were categorized into none-to-mild (n = 46) or moderate-to-severe (n = 54) disease subgroups based on the presence of valvular dysfunction and/or aortic dilatation. A more prominent decrease in MVPA (-16.9 and - 27 min/day) and step count (-967 and - 1685 steps/day) was observed with increased BAV disease severity. PA characteristics were positively associated with mental QoL in BAV, whereas no association was found with cardiac anxiety. Forty-eight percent of BAV individuals expressed uncertainty regarding allowed PA levels and 56 % was interested in additional information on PA recommendations.

BAV individuals were less physically active compared to age- and sex-matched controls, as evidenced by a lower MVPA time and step count, with greater levels of physical inactivity among individuals with more severe disease.