Object Recently, prothrombin fragment F1+2 was shown to be a sensitive direct marker of thrombin formation. We examined the effect of lifestyle (including physical activity) on prothrombin fragment F1+2 levels.
Methods Using the results of a questionnaire, the subjects were classified into groups on the basis of multiple medications, smoking, exercise, and drinking alcohol. The prothrombin fragment F1+2 levels were compared between each pair of groups and differences were analyzed using the unpaired t-test. Correlations between each parameter and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as with prothrombin fragment F1+2, were examined by multiple regression analysis.
Patients The subjects were 109 patients who had essential hypertension without a past history of thrombotic events
Results Smokers (1.47 ± 0.75 vs 0.98 ± 0.46 nmol/L, p<0.0001), and those without regular exercise (1.22 ± 0.59 vs 0.68 ± 0.30 nmol/L, p<0.0001) had higher levels of prothrombin fragment F1+2. Age, lack of exercise, and smoking were significant predictors of a high concentration of prothrombin fragment F1+2. Of the smokers, the patient with a regular exercise had low F1+2 compared with those without regular exercise (0.75 ± 0.20 vs 2.01 ± 0.49 nmol/L, p<0.0001.
Conclusions In patients with essential hypertension, age, smoking, and lack of regular exercise may increase the risk of thrombosis. Even in smokers, a regular exercise routine may reduce the tendency towards thrombus formation.