Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 43 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYJournal of clinical medicine

Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Potential Mediator of the Physical Activity–Left Atrial Function Relationship: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

  • Yue Zhong1
  • Kai Li1
  • Lijun Zeng2
  • Xue Yang3,4
  • Changwei Cai5
  • Bin Yu6
  • Shujuan Yang6
  • Qingyu Dou3
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  2. 2Department of General Internal Medicine, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  3. 3National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  4. 4Outpatient Department, West China Tianfu Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 621203, China
  5. 5The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610036, China
  6. 6West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Objectives: Left atrial (LA) strain reflects early cardiac dysfunction preceding structural remodeling and clinical disease. Data on the association between physical activity (PA) and LA function are limited. In this study, we aim to explore the association of PA with LA strain, and to test the indirect effect of skeletal muscle mass in the PA-LA association. Methods: Data from the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Cohort involving 407 participants were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of leisure-time PA with LA function, and indirect associations through skeletal muscle mass were determined using a regression-based mediation analysis. Results: PA was significantly associated with LA reservoir strain (β = 2.907, p < 0.001) and with pump strain (β = −1.674, p < 0.001). PA had a significant effect on the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) (β = 0.230, p < 0.001), while the SMI had a significant impact on LA reservoir strain (β = 2.619, 95% CI 1.425–3.813, p < 0.001) and pump strain (β = −2.621, 95% CI −3.472–−1.771, p < 0.001). The SMI partially mediated the effect of PA on LA reservoir strain by 21% (95% CI: 9–38%, p < 0.001) and LA pump strain by 36% (95% CI: 20–59%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that this statistical mediation effect of the SMI demonstrated a stronger trend in women compared to men and in participants ≥60 years old compared to their younger counterparts. Conclusions: The SMI partially mediates the association between PA and LA function in the community-dwelling Chinese participants. Sustaining a higher level of leisure-time PA was associated with better LA function. These possible beneficial effects may be partially explained through favorable changes in the SMI.

Related

  1. Mandibular incisor alveolar housing and incisor-alveolar axis relationship in untreated skeletal Class III malocclusion: A cross-sectional CBCT study
    Thanh Huyen Nguyen, Huong Ly Nguyen, Thi Dung Dao +1
    PLOS OnePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPhysiologyPLOS
  2. The home physical activity environment as a potential mediator of the association between parental physical activity and preschoolers’ physical fitness: a cross-sectional study in urban China
    Haiyun Li, Weilun Zhao, Xinyi Hu +3
    Frontiers in Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPhysiologyCrossref
  3. Circulating Immune-Cell Profiles and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
    Yu Li, Gentaro Kumagai, Sunao Tanaka +7
    Journal of Clinical MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0General medicineCrossref
  4. Investigation of Smartphone Addiction as a Potential Mediator of the Cross-Sectional Associations Between Body Image, Physical Activity, and Eating Disorders Among University Participants.
    Mohammad Ahsan, Bijad S Alqahtani
    Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textPsychiatry & mental healthEurope PMC
  5. The Mediating Effect of Sleep Quality on the Relationship Between Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross‐Sectional Study
    Lixia Chen, Xiaomei Liu, Lipei Yao +7
    Nursing openPeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCDOAJ

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{zhong2026skeletal,
  title = {{Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Potential Mediator of the Physical Activity–Left Atrial Function Relationship: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study}},
  author = {Yue Zhong and Kai Li and Lijun Zeng and Xue Yang and Changwei Cai and Bin Yu and Shujuan Yang and Qingyu Dou},
  journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15197744},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666086},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Potential Mediator of the Physical Activity–Left Atrial Function Relationship: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
AU  - Yue Zhong
AU  - Kai Li
AU  - Lijun Zeng
AU  - Xue Yang
AU  - Changwei Cai
AU  - Bin Yu
AU  - Shujuan Yang
AU  - Qingyu Dou
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of clinical medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15197744
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666086
AB  - Objectives: Left atrial (LA) strain reflects early cardiac dysfunction preceding structural remodeling and clinical disease. Data on the association between physical activity (PA) and LA function are limited. In this study, we aim to explore the association of PA with LA strain, and to test the indirect effect of skeletal muscle mass in the PA-LA association. Methods: Data from the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Cohort involving 407 participants were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of leisure-time PA with LA function, and indirect associations through skeletal muscle mass were determined using a regression-based mediation analysis. Results: PA was significantly associated with LA reservoir strain (β = 2.907, p < 0.001) and with pump strain (β = −1.674, p < 0.001). PA had a significant effect on the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) (β = 0.230, p < 0.001), while the SMI had a significant impact on LA reservoir strain (β = 2.619, 95% CI 1.425–3.813, p < 0.001) and pump strain (β = −2.621, 95% CI −3.472–−1.771, p < 0.001). The SMI partially mediated the effect of PA on LA reservoir strain by 21% (95% CI: 9–38%, p < 0.001) and LA pump strain by 36% (95% CI: 20–59%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that this statistical mediation effect of the SMI demonstrated a stronger trend in women compared to men and in participants ≥60 years old compared to their younger counterparts. Conclusions: The SMI partially mediates the association between PA and LA function in the community-dwelling Chinese participants. Sustaining a higher level of leisure-time PA was associated with better LA function. These possible beneficial effects may be partially explained through favorable changes in the SMI.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -