Sedentary behavior (SB) is a modifiable determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, yet its patterning across socio-economic groups remains underexplored. This study investigated the association between sedentary time and cardiovascular risk indicators among adults representing diverse socio-economic backgrounds. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 20–50 years using convenience sampling across diverse socio-economic groups. Data on socio-demographics, sedentary habits, dietary behaviors, and CVD risk indicators were collected through structured interviews. Correlation analyses and multiple linear regression models were used to identify predictors of CVD risk. High sedentary time (> 8 h/day) was significantly associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.001) and a history of elevated cholesterol (p = 0.041). Sedentary behavior correlated positively with socio-economic status (r = 0.723, p < 0.01) and negatively with age (r = − 0.231, p < 0.01). Regression analyses showed that smoking (β = 0.214, p = 0.015), alcohol intake (β = 0.301, p < 0.001), processed food consumption (β = 0.389, p < 0.001), high salt use (β = 0.276, p = 0.004), and frequent eating out (β = 0.251, p = 0.006) were significant independent predictors of higher CVD risk scores. Sedentary time, although associated with several lifestyle factors, was not an independent predictor of overall CVD risk after adjustment. Sedentary behavior is strongly patterned by socio-economic status and clusters with multiple behavioral and clinical CVD risk factors. Targeted interventions addressing sedentary lifestyles alongside co-occurring risk behaviors are essential to reduce CVD burden.
Garg et al. (Sat,) studied this question.