Light Physical Activity Linked to Lower Mortality Risk in Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Light physical activity was associated with lower risk of death for adults in stages 2, 3 and 4 of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study found that a one hour increase in light physical activity each day was associated with a 14% to 20% lower risk of death, with the association being most pronounced for people with advanced CKM syndrome.

Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and lipids, high blood glucose, excess weight and reduced kidney function. When combined, these factors increase the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one of them alone. CKM stages range from 0 to 4, with the higher number indicating higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

The new study suggests that light physical activity is the most common level of activity and that increasing time spent being active may provide meaningful health benefits, especially for people in CKM syndrome stage 2 and above. While physical activity, healthy eating habits and medication if appropriate are advised to slow the progression of CKM syndrome, the moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity recommended in general physical activity guidelines may not be feasible for adults with advanced CKM syndrome.

Researchers used data from the 2003 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which collected health and physical activity information from about 7,200 adults. NHANES includes information from participants' physical examinations, blood samples and up to 7 days of activity levels measured with accelerometers. Using accelerometer readings, the study authors noted whether activity level was light, moderate or vigorous. "Light physical activity is something you can do without losing your breath," said study lead author Joseph Sartini. "Common examples are yoga, casual walking, stretching and household chores."

The researchers then compared light-intensity activity duration for each CKM syndrome stage. Participants' health data determined their CKM syndrome stage. People with normal weight, blood pressure, lipids, blood sugar and kidney function are stage 0, and those with excess weight and/or pre-diabetes are stage 1. People with multiple components of CKM syndrome and/or moderate- to high-risk kidney disease are in stage 2. Individuals at very high-risk kidney disease, high risk for heart disease or stroke, or "subclinical" cardiovascular disease are in stage 3. People with multiple CKM components or chronic kidney disease who have also had a heart attack or stroke or have atrial fibrillation or peripheral artery disease are in stage 4.

The investigators found that light physical activity was significantly associated with lower risk of death in CKM syndrome stages 2, 3, and 4. Increasing time spent doing light activity was associated with greater benefits at higher CKM stages. For example, increasing activity from 90 minutes to two hours a day was associated with a 2.2% risk reduction in stage 2 compared to a 4.2% risk reduction in stage 4. "Light physical activity is an overlooked treatment tool that can help improve heart health for people with CKM syndrome," Sartini said. "For those in later CKM syndrome stages, the potential health benefits of light activity are substantial."

Bethany Barone Gibbs, an American Heart Association volunteer who was not involved in the study, said this is an important area to research. "We know less about the health impacts of light-intensity activities compared to more intense physical activity," said Gibbs. "Light intensity activities provide a great opportunity to promote energy expenditure, movement and circulation - all healthy physiological processes that we assume are related to better health - but research in this area is limited." A limitation of the study is that it is observational; therefore, it can only point to associations rather than cause and effect. Researchers cannot make conclusions about whether increasing light physical activity directly decreases risk of death. It is also possible that individuals with more advanced illness would have been pre-disposed to higher risk of death and less light intensity activity.