Daily steps threshold to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors during the year after an acute coronary syndrome.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the daily steps threshold associated with improved cardiovascular disease risk factors during the first year following an acute coronary syndrome.


METHODS
Subjects (N = 41) were recruited during hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome. A blinded pedometer with a 7-day memory (NL-2000) was used at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following hospitalization. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Subjects who maintained a mean of 7500 steps per day or more at each time period were classified into the active group, whereas those who did not maintain this threshold were classified into the less active group.


RESULTS
The active group included 25 subjects, whereas 16 subjects were included in the less active group. Daily steps mean ± SEM was different between groups at 6 and 12 months followup (11 320 ± 3380 vs 5503 ± 1502 and 10 507 ± 2861 vs 6624 ± 3295 steps per day, respectively; both P < .001). Based on the analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA-RM), the active group showed lower triglycerides (P < .01), lower waist circumference (P < .01), and higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = .04) at 12 months. Interaction effects (group × followup) were also significant for HDL-C (P = .01) and triglycerides (P = .01) after adjustment for age, gender, and baseline waist circumference.


CONCLUSION
Targeting $7500 daily steps during 1 year may be efficient to maintain lowest waist circumference and to improve lipid profile during the year following an acute coronary syndrome. It could be considered a starting target point to initiate changes in physical activity behavior.