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June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

How body composition relates to physical activity levels and handgrip strength: insights from a long-term cardiac rehabilitation program

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Why the study?

Does body composition correlate with physical activity levels and handgrip strength in cardiovascular disease patients in a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program?

Population

165 cardiovascular disease patients attending a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program.

Design

Cross-sectional

Key result

Higher percentage of body fat mass independently predicted lower moderate to vigorous physical activity levels, with each additional percentual point representing -1.12 min/day of MVPA (p=0.003).

Authors

GSG Cicio Rodrigues De SaMBM BorgesKWK Wagner

Discussion

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Overview

Supports body composition assessment in cardiac rehab; extends observational correlations but leaves causality and outcomes open.

Key Points

  • This research aims to investigate correlations between physical activity, body composition, and muscle strength in cardiovascular disease patients during rehabilitation.
  • Assessments conducted at phase III cardiac rehabilitation program entry, N=165 patients.
  • Physical activity levels measured through accelerometry; handgrip strength evaluated with a dynamometer; body composition assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
  • Data analyzed using Pearson or Spearman correlation, t-tests, and linear regression.
  • Higher %BFM correlates with lower MVPA levels (p=0.007, r=-0.210).
  • Non-compliers to PA guidelines show significantly higher %BFM (35.05% vs 31.48%, p=0.043).
  • Age and %BFM are independent predictors of average MVPA (F(3,161)=6.79, p<0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=165)

Structured PICO

Does body composition correlate with physical activity levels and handgrip strength in cardiovascular disease patients in a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program?

P
Population
165 cardiovascular disease patients (mean age 61, 84.2% male) assessed at entry to a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program.
O
Outcome
Correlations between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)/sedentary behaviour (SB) levels, BMI/percentage of body fat mass (%BFM) and handgrip strengthsurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: -1.12 min/day per 1% increase in %BFM

p-value: p=0.003

Higher percentage of body fat mass, rather than BMI, is independently correlated with lower moderate to vigorous physical activity levels in phase III cardiac rehabilitation patients.

Cite This Study

Sa et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease (n=165). Percentage of body fat mass (%BFM) was evaluated on Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (-1.12 min/day per 1% increase in %BFM, p=0.003). Higher percentage of body fat mass independently predicted lower moderate to vigorous physical activity levels, with each additional percentual point representing -1.12 min/day of MVPA (p=0.003).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd11d6550ea4541ffe8aahttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.140
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