Table 2

Adjusted relative risks (RR) for non-communicable diseases that is attributable to low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour reported in studies of physical inactivity, institutional eldercare and sedentary behaviour

Study/referenceRR (95% Cl)Adjustment factor*
Physical inactivity
Coronary heart diseaseLee et al 4 1.16 (1.04 to 1.30)1.20
Type 2 diabetesLee et al 4 1.20 (1.10 to 1.33)1.23
Breast cancerLee et al 4 1.33 (1.26 to 1.42)1.05
Colon cancerLee et al 4 1.32 (1.23 to 1.39)1.22
StrokeDing et al 9 1.18 (NA)1.40†
DepressionSchuch et al 40 1.19 (1.13 to 1.26)‡NA
Back painShiri and Falah-Hasani41 1.12 (1.03 to 1.22)NA
FractureQu et al 42 1.41 (1.25 to 1.59)NA
All-cause mortalityLee et al 4 1.28 (1.21 to 1.36)1.22
Institutional eldercare
Alzheimer’s diseaseBeckett et al 43 1.64 (1.37 to 1.92)NA
FractureQu et al 42 1.41 (1.25 to 1.59)NA
StrokeDing et al 9 1.18 (NA)1.40
Sedentary behaviour
Coronary heart diseasePetersen et al 44 1.12 (0.95 to 1.28)§1.23
Type 2 diabetesHeron et al 7 1.88 (1.62 to 2.17)1.12
All-cause mortalityHeron et al 7 1.25 (1.16 to 1.34)1.87
Colon cancerHeron et al 7 1.30 (1.12 to 1.49)1.22
Breast cancerShen et al 45 1.17 (1.03 to 1.33)NA
DepressionZhai et al 46 1.14 (1.06 to 1.21)NA
  • *Adjustment factor was used to explore differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour between cases with non-communicable disease of interest and healthy participants: If not reported for the cases, physical acitivity was derived from the entire study population.7

  • †From Finnish (FINRISK) cohort study.

  • ‡OR.

  • §Pooled HR.

  • NA, not available.