| Objectives. To determine whether the associations of walking with selected cardiovascular risk factors [CVRFs: glycemia, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure (BP)] are mediated by abdominal obesity (AO) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).;Results. A 1000 daily step increment in women was associated with a 0.13% (95% CI -0.25, -0.01) lower HbA1c, a 0.22 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.00) odds of dyslipidemia therapy, a -2.86 mmHg (95% CI: -4.32, -1.40) difference in systolic and a -1.66 mmHg (95% CI:-2.49, -0.82) difference in diastolic BP. With adjustment for AO, only associations with BP retained significance. The same step increment in men was associated with a 0.10% (95% CI: -0.22, -0.02) lower HbA1c and a -0.77 mm Hg difference in diastolic BP (95% CI: -1.55, 0.00). Adjustment for AO did not impact these associations.;Discussion. Greater understanding of the role of changes in AO may provide insight into sex differences in CVD risk in DM2.;Methods. 94 women and 106 men with DM2 were assessed (June 2006-June 2008) for walking (2 weeks pedometer); AO (waist to hip ratio, WHR; waist circumference); glycemia (hemoglobin A1C, HbA1C); dyslipidemia therapy; and blood pressure (BP). Associations between walking and CVRFs were examined using multivariate regression, with and without adjustment for AO and potential confounders. |
