The Effect of Sedentary Behaviour on Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important indicator of current and future health. While the impact of habitual physical activity on CRF is well established, the role of sedentary behaviour (SB) remains less understood. Objective We aimed to determine the effect of SB on CRF. Methods Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus from inception to August 2022. Randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies and cohort studies that assessed the relationship between SB and CRF were eligible. Narrative syntheses and meta-analyses summarised the evidence, and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) certainty was based on evidence from randomised controlled trials. Results This review included 18 studies that focused on youth (four randomised controlled trials, three quasi-experimental studies, 11 cohort studies) and 24 on adult populations (15 randomised controlled trials, five quasi-experimental studies, four cohort studies). In youth and adults, evidence from randomised controlled trials suggests mixed effects of SB on CRF, but with the potential for interventions to improve CRF. Quasi-experimental and cohort studies also support similar conclusions. Certainty of evidence was very low for both age groups. A meta-analysis of adult randomised controlled trials found that interventions targeting reducing SB, or increasing physical activity and reducing SB, had a significant effect on post-peak oxygen consumption (mean difference = 3.16 mL.kg–1.min–1, 95% confidence interval: 1.76, 4.57). Conclusions Evidence from randomised controlled trials indicates mixed associations between SB and CRF, with the potential for SB to influence CRF, as supported by meta-analytical findings. Further well-designed trials are warranted to confirm the relationship between SB and CRF, explore the effects of SB independent from higher intensity activity, and investigate the existence of such relationships in paediatric populations. Clinical Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42022356218.

Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Metabolic Risks

“…CRF measures the ability of an individual's cardiovascular and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to muscles during aerobic activities, serving as an indicator of mitochondrial function and efficiency. It is directly affected by physical activity, smoking, sedentary behavior, body weight, genetics, age, health status, and biological sex [4,[8][9][10]. The gold standard to objectively measure CRF is a laboratory-conducted cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) measuring peak oxygen consumption expressed as a relative VO 2 peak in mL O 2 /kg per minute.…”