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A new study reveals that extended periods of sedentary behavior—such as sitting, reclining, or lying down—can significantly elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, even among those who engage in regular exercise. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024 and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Key Findings
The research analyzed data from 89,530 participants in the UK Biobank study, with an average age of 62 years and a majority (56.4%) being women. Participants wore wrist-mounted accelerometers to track movement over seven days, revealing an average sedentary time of 9.4 hours per day. The study followed participants for eight years, observing 3,638 cases of atrial fibrillation (AF), 1,854 cases of heart failure (HF), 1,610 heart attacks, and 846 cardiovascular-related deaths.
Key results showed that individuals spending more than 10.6 hours daily in sedentary activities faced a sharply increased risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death. This threshold marked a “tipping point,” beyond which risks rose significantly.
For those meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, the effects of sedentary time on AF and heart attack risk were reduced. However, these individuals were still vulnerable to elevated risks of heart failure and cardiovascular mortality associated with prolonged sedentary behavior.
The Health Implications
“Our findings support cutting back on sedentary time to reduce cardiovascular risk, with 10.6 hours a day marking a potentially key threshold tied to higher heart failure and cardiovascular mortality,” said Dr. Shaan Khurshid, co-senior author and cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Too much sitting or lying down can be harmful for heart health, even for those who are active.”
Charles Eaton, MD, from Brown University, emphasized that replacing just 30 minutes of sedentary time with any form of physical activity can improve heart health. Moderate-to-vigorous activity reduced heart failure risk by 15% and cardiovascular mortality by 10%, while even light activity lowered these risks by 6% and 9%, respectively.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite its robust findings, the study has limitations, including potential misclassification of standing as sedentary time due to the use of wrist-worn accelerometers. Additionally, it could not fully account for contextual factors, such as whether sedentary behavior occurred at work or during leisure. Further research is needed to determine how reallocating sedentary time to specific activities impacts health outcomes.
A Call to Action
Experts urge public health initiatives to highlight the dangers of prolonged sitting and encourage integrating movement into daily routines. “This study adds to the growing evidence of a strong link between sedentary behavior and cardiovascular health,” said Harlan M. Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of JACC. “The findings strongly suggest that we need to get people moving to promote better health.”
The research underscores that while regular exercise is essential, reducing overall sedentary time is equally critical for maintaining heart health.
