Habitual stair climbing is associated with reduced risks of atrial fibrillation and mortality, though this may reflect reverse causation rather than a true protective effect.
Does habitual stair climbing reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation and mortality, or is the association due to reverse causation?
The observed cardiovascular benefits of stair climbing may be confounded by baseline health status (reverse causation), necessitating further research before widespread promotion in public health campaigns.
Background: Stair climbing is increasingly associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, including a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation and mortality. Objectives: In this opinion paper, we aim to critically evaluate whether these associations reflect a true protective effect or, rather, underlying differences in baseline health status. Methods: After performing a narrative synthesis of recent observational studies and meta-analyses, we prepared this thought-provoking “Opinion paper” considering current clinical guidelines on cardiovascular risk and exertional stress. Results: Habitual stair climbing is consistently associated with reduced risks of atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality, with apparent dose–response relationships. However, these findings may be influenced by reverse causation, as individuals with greater functional capacity are more likely to engage in stair climbing. Conclusions: additional research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and define optimal conditions under which stair climbing may act as a causal protective factor, before its widespread promotion in public health campaigns.
Baggio et al. (Mon,) conducted a editorial in Cardiovascular risk. Stair climbing was evaluated on Atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Habitual stair climbing is associated with reduced risks of atrial fibrillation and mortality, though this may reflect reverse causation rather than a true protective effect.