Key result
Reducing sedentary behavior fails to alter cardiac structure or function in inactive metabolic syndrome adults.
Why the study?
Interventional studies on the effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on cardiac structure and function in inactive adults with metabolic syndrome were missing.
Does a 6-month behavioral intervention reducing sedentary behavior improve cardiac structure and function at rest and during exercise in physically inactive adults with metabolic syndrome?
RCT (n=64)
Single-blind (examiners blinded to group allocation)
Random permuted block randomization
No
Does a 6-month behavioral intervention reducing sedentary behavior improve cardiac structure and function at rest and during exercise in physically inactive adults with metabolic syndrome?
An intention-to-treat 6-month intervention to reduce sedentary time by 1 hour daily did not significantly alter resting or exercise cardiac structure and function in sedentary adults with metabolic syndrome, though post-hoc successful reducers showed potential improvements in LV mass and strain.
Null 6-month sedentary reduction does not improve cardiac structure or function in metabolic syndrome; challenges assumptions that modest activity changes yield echocardiographic benefits.
Background Interventional studies on sedentary behaviour (SB) and cardiac health are missing. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of reducing SB on cardiac structure and function in inactive and sedentary adults with metabolic syndrome. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, the intervention group (n = 33) aimed at reducing SB by 1 h/d for 6 months. The control group (n = 31) continued their SB and physical activity (PA) as usual. All participants wore accelerometers throughout the study. Echocardiography was performed at rest and during incremental exercise tests before and after the intervention. Results No intervention effects were observed in any echocardiographic variables between the randomized groups. However, when participants were regrouped into a less sedentary (mean SB reduction 60 min/d) or a continuously sedentary group, based on their actual measured behaviour change, left ventricular (LV) mass index and end-diastolic diameter decreased more in the less sedentary than in the continuously sedentary group (group x time P = 0.045 and 0.020, respectively). Moreover, LV global longitudinal strain during exercise improved in the less sedentary group compared to the continuously sedentary group. Among all participants, the change in light PA was correlated inversely with the change in LV mass index ( r = –0.32, P = 0.026), and the change in standing time was correlated with the change in the early diastolic flow velocity / lateral mitral annular velocity (E/e') ratio ( r = 0.28, P = 0.048). Conclusions A 6-month intervention aimed at reducing SB did not affect cardiac structure or function. However, in participants with successful SB reduction and increased light PA regardless of original randomization, LV mass index may have decreased, and LV function during exercise may have improved. Clinical Trial Registration NCT03101228.
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Norha et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Metabolic syndrome and physical inactivity (n=64). Reduction of sedentary behaviour vs. Usual sedentary behaviour and physical activity was evaluated on Cardiac structure and function (echocardiographic variables at rest and during exercise). A 6-month intervention aimed at reducing sedentary behavior by 1 hour per day did not alter cardiac structure or function in inactive adults with metabolic syndrome.
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