JACC Associate Editor Xiaoxi Yao, MPH, MS, PhD, FACC, interviews author Shaan Khurshid, MD and Ezimamaka Ajufo, MD, about their study on sedentary behavior presented at AHA and published in JACC. Beyond serving as a marker for insufficient physical activity, sedentary behavior may directly affect risk of future cardiovascular (CV) disease. In 89,530 UK biobank participants, greater accelerometer-measured sedentary time was associated with higher incidence of adverse CV events. Associations with sedentary time were particularly robust for HF and CV mortality, where risk inflected at approximately 10.6 hours/day and remained apparent even among individuals meeting guideline-recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Future guidelines focused on sedentary behavior should emphasize the importance of avoiding excess sedentary behavior, even among individuals who are active.
