Key result
High digital media exposure (≥6 hours/day) was associated with a increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Why the study?
Does high digital media exposure increase the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality?
Meta-Analysis (n=1,240,378)
Does high digital media exposure increase the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High digital media exposure (≥6 hours/day) is associated with a roughly 27-29% increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, highlighting the cardiovascular risks of sedentary screen time.
Background: social media, screen time, online gaming, and digital work settings are just a few examples of the rapidly expanding digital media use that has sparked worries about its possible effects on physical health. Recent data indicates that extended use of digital media may affect the physiological, behavioral, and psychological processes linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: From the beginning until June 2025, we performed a thorough literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Studies that reported correlations between different types of digital media exposure (such as screen time, social media use, and internet usage) and cardiovascular outcomes (such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke) were eligible. Results: A total of 42 studies (n = 1,240,378 participants) met inclusion criteria. A substantially higher risk of cardiovascular events was linked to high digital media exposure (≥6 hours/day) (pooled OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.12–1.44). Stronger correlations were found by subgroup analyses between younger persons (18–35 years old) and those who reported passive screen time or other forms of sedentary media usage. The risk of CVD mortality was higher for individuals in the highest category (median duration, 10.2 h/d) than for those in the lowest category (median duration, 2.98 h/d) (pooled HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.13–1.47). Screen time was linked to a comparable risk of CVD as total sedentary time, with a cut-off point of 5–6 hours per day. Conclusions: Existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate significant association between high digital media exposure and increased cardiovascular disease risk.
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Mallah et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Cardiovascular disease (n=1,240,378). High digital media exposure (≥6 hours/day) vs. Low digital media exposure was evaluated on Cardiovascular events (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44). High digital media exposure (≥6 hours/day) was associated with a increased risk of cardiovascular events.
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