Category: Cardiology
Posted: 12/14/2024 by Brian Corwell, MD
(Updated: 12/22/2024)
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death both in the United States and globally for both men and women.
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is a commonly used composite outcome.
MACE is defined as non-fatal stroke/acute myocardial infarction/heart failure or cardiovascular death.
Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases and death worldwide
Up to 5 million deaths/yr could be averted with increased physical activity
Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many types of cancer by 8-28%, diabetes by 17%, heart disease and CVA by 19%, and dementia by 20%.
Many adults and children find meeting the recommended physical activity goals very challenging.
A recent observational study found that just 1.5-to-4-minute small bursts of high intensity exercise throughout the day may help lower an individual’s risk of MACE.
To clarify, this does not mean going to the gym to do a 45-minute HIIT class
Vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) involves such simple things as carrying the groceries a short distance or taking the work stairs instead of the elevator.
Such activities are more feasible for all of us vs structured exercise for obvious reasons.
Study group was >100,000 middle-aged men and women. Average age 61.
All participants wore an activity tracker continuously for a full week.
This data was used to calculate VILPA bouts throughout the day.
Female participants with no formal exercise regimen who recorded just 3.4 minutes of VILPA a day were 50% less likely to have a MI, had a 67% decreased risk for heart failure and 45% less likely to develop any type of MACE vs those who did not clock any VILPA during their day.
Female participants who recorded just 1.2-1.6 minutes of VILPA a day had a 33% lower risk of MI, 40% decreased risk of heart failure and 30% lower risk of MACE.
In male participants, those with 5.6 minutes of VILPA each day had a 16% reduced risk of having MACE than those who did not have any VILPA.
Differences may be due to women’s VILPA intensity was roughly 20% greater than men
Conclusion: Take the stairs
Stamatakis E, et al. Device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) and major adverse cardiovascular events: evidence of sex differences. Br J Sports Med. 2024 Oct 28
