Association between total daily sedentary time and cardiometabolic biomarkers in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Older adults engage in the highest levels of sedentary behaviour across all age groups. Yet, the extent to which sedentary time is associated with cardiometabolic health in older adults is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined associations between daily sedentary time and cardiometabolic biomarkers in older adults. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles in participants aged ≥60 years that studied the association between daily sedentary time and ≥1 cardiometabolic biomarker were eligible. Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Web of Science and PsycINFO) were searched. Screening, data extraction and study quality were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were undertaken using random effects models based on correlation and regression coefficients. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: Twenty-eight articles were included with sample sizes ranging from 30 to 62,754 participants. Increasing daily sedentary time was adversely associated with body mass index (Hedge’s g: 0.32; P=0.001), waist circumference (Hedge’s g: 0.45; P<0.001), body fat percentage (Hedge’s g: 0.61; P=0.012) and fat mass (Hedge’s g: 0.30; P=0.018). There were also unfavourably associations with systolic blood pressure (Hedge’s g: 0.37; P=0.047), blood glucose (Hedge’s g: 0.30; P=0.044), triglycerides (Hedge’s g: 0.36; P=0.039) and HDL cholesterol (Hedge’s g: 0.34; P=0.034). Conclusions: Increased daily sedentary time is adversely associated with body composition, systolic blood pressure and blood biomarkers in older adults. Therefore, limiting sedentary behaviour should be considered an important target in this population group for improved cardiometabolic health.