The association between physical activity and cardiac performance is dependent on age: the Copenhagen City Heart Study

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that regular physical activity is associated with improved cardiac function measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in the general population. Within a large prospective community-based population study, cardiac function was assessed in 2221 persons by TDI. Longitudinal displacement (LD), early diastolic velocity (e’), and myocardial performance index (MPI) was obtained by TDI. Linear univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed in relation to age groups ( 65 years) and self-reported level of physical activity: I (inactivity), II (light activity), III (moderate activity), and IV (high-level activity). Participants 65 years, there was a tendency of impaired cardiac function in higher levels of exercise. Interaction analysis revealed that age significantly modified the association between physical activity and cardiac function (p