Effects of Acute Prolonged Sitting and Interrupting Prolonged Sitting on Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Prolonged sitting increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, however the physiological mechanisms contributing to CVD from acute sitting exposure are not well-understood. Therefore, this study investigated the heart rate (HR) and variability (HRV) responses to prolonged sitting and after interrupting prolonged sitting (e.g., walking). Electronic databases were searched (inception-August 2020) for studies which exposed adults to prolonged (≥1 h) sitting with and/or without interruptions. Twenty-one articles (27 trials, n = 537) met inclusion criteria. Prolonged sitting non-significantly increased HR (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0 bpm, 95% CI: −2, 3) and HRV (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.12, 95% CI: −0.08, 0.33) compared to pre-sitting baseline. Interrupting prolonged sitting yielded a non-significant small increase in HR (WMD = 4 bpm, 95% CI: 0, 7) compared to pre-sitting baseline. Sub-group analyses investigating interrupting prolonged sitting revealed small-to-moderate increases in HR in healthy populations (WMD = 6 bpm, 95% CI: 1, 10) and following walking interruptions (WMD = 7 bpm, 95% CI: 3, 11). In conclusion, prolonged sitting does not significantly affect HR or HRV. However, interrupting prolonged sitting yielded a small non-significant increase in HR, potentially indicative of increased metabolic demand. Further research is needed to investigate poor CVD outcomes via autonomic disruption from prolonged sitting.

Effects of light‐intensity physical activity on cardiometabolic parameters in young adults with overweight and obesity: The SED‐ACT randomized controlled crossover trial

“…HR was increased during the day, with walking providing the highest HR, followed by continuous standing and sitting interrupted with standing. Previous research on changes in HR/HRV during interrupted prolonged sitting revealed moderate effects on HR only for healthy populations, and, additionally, walking as the interruption strategy resulted in the greatest increase in HR, as compared with other strategies 45 . For SDNN there are significant time × condition effects.…”

“…Previous research on changes in HR/HRV during interrupted prolonged sitting revealed moderate effects on HR only for healthy populations, and, additionally, walking as the interruption strategy resulted in the greatest increase in HR, as compared with other strategies. 45 For SDNN there are significant time  condition effects. During the day, SDNN is sympathetically controlled and highest when sitting, whereas post-condition sympatheticparasympathetic answer during nighttime shows a sympathetically driven recovery situation, which is primarily evident for STAND, followed by SIT-STAND, WALK, and SIT.…”

Blood pressure and heart rate variability responses following an acute bout of vinyasa yoga and a prolonged seated control: A randomized crossover trial

“…The improved HR/HRV responses to the seated control from this study were not consistent with previous findings. Our group previously performed a meta-analysis of HR/HRV responses to bouts of prolonged sitting and found no significant changes in response to prolonged sitting bouts [ 34 ]. Although the reasons why our study’s HR/HRV responses were different from those of the meta-analysis are unclear, the BP responses to our study’s prolonged seated condition were typical.…”

Variation in blood pressure and heart rate of radiological technologists in worktime tracked by a wearable device: A preliminary study

“…In contrast, it has been generally recommended that prolonged sitting during deskwork should be reduced; therefore, investigation of the benefits of a balance of sitting and standing work may be task for the future [ 38 ]. The effects of HR monitoring remain unclear because interrupting prolonged sitting leads to a non-significant increase in HR [ 39 ]. Other possible explanations for the variation of B is that BP might be influenced by the jobs that require quick and precise decision-making.…”