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Setting your clock: associations between timing of objective physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in the general population

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, vol. 30, pp. 232–240

Abstract

AIMS: Little is known about the impact of daily physical activity timing (here referred to as 'chronoactivity') on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We aimed to examined the associations between chronoactivity and multiple CVD outcomes in the UK Biobank. METHODS AND RESULTS: physical activity data were collected in the UK-Biobank through triaxial accelerometer over a 7-day measurement period. We used K-means clustering to create clusters of participants with similar chronoactivity irrespective of the mean daily intensity of the physical activity. Multivariable-adjusted Cox-proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) comparing the different clusters adjusted for age and sex (model 1), and baseline cardiovascular risk factors (model 2). Additional stratified analyses were done by sex, mean activity level, and self-reported sleep chronotype. We included 86 657 individuals (58% female, mean age: 61.6 [SD: 7.8] years, mean BMI: 26.6 [4.5] kg/m2). Over a follow-up period of 6 years, 3707 incident CVD events were reported. Overall, participants with a tendency of late morning physical activity had a lower risk of incident coronary artery disease (HR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.77, 0.92) and stroke (HR: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.98) compared to participants with a midday pattern of physical activity. These effects were more pronounced in women (P-value for interaction = 0.001). We did not find evidence favouring effect modification by total activity level and sleep chronotype. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of total physical activity, morning physical activity was associated with lower risks of incident cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the potential importance of chronoactivity in CVD prevention.

Authors 7

  1. Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

  2. Leiden University Medical Center · Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology , Mekelweg 2 (building 34), 2628 CD Delft , The Netherlands

    Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

  3. Leiden University Medical Center · Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

    Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing , Rijnsburgerweg 10, 2333 AA Leiden , The Netherlands

  4. Leiden University Medical Center · Netherlands Heart Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

    Netherlands Heart Institute , Moreelsepark 1, 3511 EP Utrecht , The Netherlands

  5. Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

  6. Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

  7. Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center , Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden , The Netherlands

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References 40