Association of sitting time and cardiorespiratory fitness with cardiovascular disease risk and healthcare costs among office workers

Ind Health. 2023 Sep 22;61(5):368-378. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2022-0010. Epub 2022 Oct 24.

Abstract

Evidence of the impact of domain-specific sitting time (ST) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is currently limited. This study aimed to examine the associations between CRF and domain-specific STs in relation to CVD risk and annual healthcare costs among office workers. This cross-sectional study included 1,749 workers from an insurance company. The Worker's Living Activity-time Questionnaire was used to measure the domain-specific STs, including occupational ST and non-working day ST. Additionally, estimated maximal oxygen uptake as the CRF data was calculated using a validated equation: 59.96 - 0.23 × age + 7.39 × sex - 0.79 × body mass index + 0.33 × physical activity score. The company provided medical checkup results for CVD risk factors and healthcare costs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for CVD risk. Significantly lower ORs for CVD risk were seen only with high CRF levels, and it was also associated with low annual healthcare costs. There were no associations between domain-specific STs and annual healthcare costs. Further explorations of domain-specific STs, physical activity, and health risks are warranted, and guidelines should focus on increasing CRF to prevent CVD risk among office workers.

Keywords: Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular diseases; Domain-specific sitting time; Occupational health; Sedentary behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Physical Fitness
  • Risk Factors