Prolonged sitting may lead to heart failure in men

Pasadena, CA – Lack of physical activity and long periods of sitting may increase the risk of heart failure in men, according to a new study from health care provider Kaiser Permanente.

Using the electronic health records of men in the California Men’s Health Study, researchers tracked 82,695 men 45 or older for 10 years. Men who reported high levels of sedentary time and low levels of physical activity were found to have 2.2 times the odds of developing heart failure compared to their more active counterparts.

Heart failure means the blood flow to the heart is too low; about half of people with the condition die within five years of the diagnosis, according to a Kaiser Permanente press release.

The study was published online Jan. 22 in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure.