A sedentary lifestyle in childhood increased the risk of heart attack and stroke in young adulthood
A sedentary lifestyle in children and adolescents has been shown to be associated with damage to left ventricular myocardial mass at a young age, even in people with normal weight and blood pressure levels. Increased myocardial mass doubles the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland evaluated the effect of the amount of time spent sitting in children and adolescents on the development of cardiovascular disease later in life. The results of the study are published on the European Society of Cardiology website.
The amount of time children spent sitting at age 11 was more than six hours a day. This increased to nearly eight hours a day by adolescence (age 15) and to 8.5 hours by age 24. On average, the amount of time spent immobile increased by 2.8 hours per day between childhood and adolescence.
Analysis showed that a one-minute increase in time spent sitting for children and adolescents older than 11 years of age resulted in a 0.004 g/m2 increase in left ventricular myocardial mass,7 between ages 17 and 24 years. Including 2.8 hours of additional inactivity, the daily increase was 0.7 g/m2,7 equivalent to a 3-g increase in left ventricular myocardial mass between echocardiograms. Previous studies have shown that a similar increase in left ventricular myocardial mass (1 g/m2.7) over seven years is associated with a twofold increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.
Data from 766 children were analyzed. At age 11, study participants wore a smart watch with an activity tracker for seven days. Testing was then repeated at age 15 and at age 24. In addition, left ventricular myocardial mass was assessed by echoCG at ages 17 and 24. The authors studied the relationship between sedentary lifestyle starting at age 11 years and heart size at ages 17 to 24 years. The analysis took into account sex, age, blood pressure level, fat content, smoking, physical activity, and socioeconomic indicators.