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Carotid atherosclerotic burden rises with more TV watching
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NEW ORLEANS — Adults who watched television for longer amounts of time per week were more likely to have carotid atheromatic plaque than those who did not watch as much TV, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.
“Our results emphasize the importance of avoiding prolonged periods of sedentary behavior,” Sotirios Tsalamandris, MD, a cardiologist at the First Cardiology Clinic at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, said in a press release. “These findings suggest a clear message to hit the ‘off’ button on your TV and abandon your sofa. Even activities of low energy expenditure, such as socializing with friends or housekeeping activities, may have a substantial benefit to your health compared to time spent sitting and watching TV.”
Researchers analyzed data from 2,043 patients from Greece in the Corinthia epidemiological study. Intima-media thickness in both carotid arteries were measured by ultrasonography. Researchers also assessed the maximum and average thickness as values of subclinical atherosclerosis.
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to collect information on physical activity. This information was also used to calculate the average number of hours spent per week watching videos, DVDs or television. Patients were categorized as low TV timing ( 7 hours per week), moderate TV timing (> 7 hours and < 21 hours per week) and high TV timing (> 21 hours per week).
Patients in the low TV timing group had lower carotid atheromatic plaque compared with those with moderate and high TV timing (P = .02). After adjusting for confounders such as BMI, age, history of CVD and CV risk factors, the amount of TV watched per week was associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (P = .03).
Compared with patients with low TV timing, those with high TV timing were 80% more likely to have carotid atheromatic plaque despite confounders (P = .01).
“The present findings have important public health implications, providing a better understanding to the complicated interaction between the components of sedentary behavior and atherosclerosis progression,” Tsalamandris and colleagues wrote. – by Darlene Dobkowski
Reference:
Tsalamandris S, et al. Noninvasive Imaging: Sports and Exercise 2. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Scientific Session; March 16-18, 2019; New Orleans.
Disclosure: Tsalamandris reports no relevant financial disclosures.