NEW research has identified a relationship between cumulative sedentary time, physical activity (PA) from childhood to adolescence, and cardiac function in adolescence. Promoting a healthy lifestyle in children is paramount in driving development, quality of life, and long-term health.
Eero A. Haapala and colleagues at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, conducted a study comprised of 153 adolescents (69 females, 84 males), with their PA levels from ages 6–8 years at baseline, 8–10 years at 2-year follow-up, and 15–17 years at 8-year follow-up, tracked and recorded. Sedentary time and PA was measured using accelerometers and heart rate monitors, whilst cardiac function was assessed using impedance cardiography at the 8-year follow-up.
Data were analysed using a linear regression analyses, adjusted for age and sex. Cumulative moderate to vigorous PA (standardised regression coefficient [β]: -0.323; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.527–-0.119]) and vigorous PA (β: -0.295; 95% CI: -0.508–-0.083) from baseline to 8‐year follow‐up were inversely associated with cardiac work at 8‐year follow‐up, whereas, cumulative sedentary time had a positive association (β: 0.245; 95% CI: 0.092–0.398]). Cumulative vigorous PA from baseline to 8‐year follow‐up was inversely associated with cardiac work index at 8‐year follow‐up (β: -0.218; 95% CI: -0.436–0.000). Overall, these results revealed that sedentary behaviour and low levels of PA contributed to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers emphasised the importance of PA in childhood to prevent cardiac abnormalities later in life. Furthermore, the elevated cardiac work, present in those exhibiting sedentary behaviour in early life, was suggested to be an early biomarker for cardiac overloading and risk of heart disease in youth.
