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More exercise, less sedentary time may reduce HF risk in men
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Increased sedentary time was found to increase the risk for HF in men, even for those who exercise regularly, according to new research.
Previous research has demonstrated that prolonged sedentary behavior may increase risk for CVD and mortality, after controlling for physical activity. However, some previous studies included HF in their definition of CV events, but “none specifically examined HF,” according to study researcher Deborah Rohm Young, PhD, a senior scientist at Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, Calif., and colleagues.
“The results from this large, prospective study of a racially/ethnically diverse population bolster the accumulating evidence of the importance of a physically active and non-sedentary lifestyle for reducing the risk of HF,” the researchers wrote.
The new study included 82,695 men aged 45 years and older without prevalent HF. All participants were enrolled in the California Men’s Health Study and were followed for a mean of 7.8 years.
Duration and frequency of both physical activity and sedentary time were determined by self-reports. Participants also responded to questionnaires to assess sociodemographics information, and electronic health records were studied to determine hypertension; diabetes status; HDL, triglyceride and fasting glucose levels; and prevalent CHD.
Incident HF occurred in 3,473 cases during the course of follow-up. The incidence of HF decreased as the level of physical activity increased:
- 7.8 cases per 1,000 person-years in men with low levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (≤470 metabolic equivalent minutes per week).
- 4.9 cases per 1,000 person-years in men with medium levels of physical activity (471-1,584 metabolic equivalent minutes per week).
- 3.8 per 1,000 person-years in men with high levels of physical activity (≥1,585 metabolic equivalent minutes per week).
Men with the lowest level of physical activity had an increased risk for HF compared with those men with the highest level, after controlling for covariates (HR=1.52; 95% CI, 1.39-1.68). Risk was also elevated among men who reported a medium amount of activity compared with those who reported the highest amount (HR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29).
In other results, HF risk also increased according to the amount of daily sedentary time:
- 3.8 cases per 1,000 person-years in men with low levels of sedentary time (≤2 hours per day).
- 5.6 cases per 1,000 person-years in men with medium levels of sedentary time (3-4 hours per day).
- 8.8 cases per 1,000 person-years in men with high levels of sedentary time (≥5 hours per day).
After controlling for physical activity, men who reported the highest levels of sedentary time were at increased risk for HF compared with those who reported the lowest levels (HR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.21-1.48). A smaller increase was observed among men who reported medium levels of sedentary time (HR=1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.24 vs. highest category).
Sensitivity analysis that excluded men with fewer than 3 months of follow-up or cases of HF diagnosed in the first follow-up year did not significantly alter results. Researchers also noted that these trends were similar regardless of white or Hispanic race, BMI category and hypertension at baseline.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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