UTICAJ FIZIČKE AKTIVNOSTI NA PROGRESIJU ATEROSKLEROZE KOD BOLESNIKA SA ANTIFOSFOLIPIDNIM SINDROMOM

Aleksandra Djokovic; Natasa Stanisavljevic; Predrag Matic; Rastko Zivic; Branka Filipovic; Kristina Bozovic; Marko Banovic; Marija Polovina; Slavica Pavlov Dolijanovic; Ljudmila Stojanovich

doi:10.5937/medi0-54817

Aleksandra Djokovic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Center Bezanijska kosa, Department of Cardiology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6094-7306
Natasa Stanisavljevic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia, University Hospital Center Bezanijska kosa, Department of Hematology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1496-9034
Predrag Matic Institute for cardiovascular diseases “Dedinje”, Clinic for vascular surgery, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9043-347X
Rastko Zivic Clinical Hospital Center Dr Dragisa Misovic “Dedinje”, Department for Surgery, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5124-2697
Branka Filipovic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Hospital Center Dr Dragisa Misovic “Dedinje”, Department for Gastroenterology, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9901-5090
Kristina Bozovic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2030-0131
Marko Banovic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Cardiology,, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0017-6140
Marija Polovina University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Cardiology,, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9589-0023
Slavica Pavlov Dolijanovic University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Rheumatology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5683-2193
Ljudmila Stojanovich University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9548-2513

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/medi0-54817

Keywords: antiphospholipid syndrome; atherosclerosis; physical activity

Abstract

Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to the interplay between traditional risk factors and antibody-induced endothelial damage. Limited data exist on the level of physical activity (PA) in APS patients. This study aimed to analyze PA domains in Serbian APS patients and their association with atherosclerosis progression.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-one APS patients (29 with primary APS (PAPS), mean age 44.0 ± 11.5, and 22 with APS/SLE, mean age 48.4 ± 11.7) completed the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), translated into Serbian. PA was categorized into leisure time, domestic activities, work-related, and transport-related domains, and classified as low, moderate, or high. Carotid Doppler ultrasound scans were performed to detect atherosclerotic plaques.

Results: The total PA in a PAPS group ranged from 0 to 26.880 MET-minutes/ week and in sAPS from 0 to 19.200. Work-related and domestic activities had the highest scores, while leisure time PA was lowest. Most patients had low (37.3%) or moderate (43.1%) PA levels, with only 19.6% in the high PA category. No significant PA differences were found between PAPS and sAPS patients. However, PAPS patients were more likely to have high PA (27.6% vs. 9.1%), though not significantly. Patients with lower PA scores had a higher prevalence of carotid plaques, particularly for vigorous (p=0.001) and total PA (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Younger Serbian APS patients predominantly exhibit low or moderate PA, especially during leisure time. Low PA strongly correlates with atherosclerosis progression, underscoring the need to promote physical activity in this population.

Impact of physical activity on the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Abstract