Physical inactivity and risk of pulmonary embolism

January 01, 0001

Physical inactivity and risk of pulmonary embolism

These US researchers used data from the Nurse’s Health Study, a prospective cohort study, to examine the relationship between physical inactivity and idiopathic pulmonary embolism. The study included 69 950 adult female nurses, and data was collected through routine surveys. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models controlled for other variable affecting risk of thrombosis.

The researchers found: "Over the 18 year study period, there were 268 cases of incident idiopathic pulmonary embolism. There was an association between time of sitting and risk of idiopathic pulmonary embolism (41/104 720 v 16/14 565 cases in most inactive v least inactive in combined data). The risk of pulmonary embolism was more than twofold in women who spent the most time sitting compared with those who spent the least time sitting (multivariable hazard ratio 2.34). There was no association between physical activity and pulmonary embolism."

The researchers concluded: "Physical inactivity is associated with incident pulmonary embolism in women. Interventions that decrease time sitting could lower the risk of pulmonary embolism."

This large prospective cohort found a link between physical inactivity and risk of pulmonary embolism

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ 343:d3867, 4 July 2011 © 2011 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Physical inactivity and idiopathic pulmonary embolism in women: prospective study. Christopher Kabrhel, Raphaëlle Varraso, Samuel Z Goldhaber, Eric Rimm, Carlos A Camargo Jr,. Correspondence to C Kabrhel: [email protected]

Category: B. Blood/Immune Mechanisms, R. Respiratory. Keywords: physical activity, physical inactivity, pulmonary embolism, thrombosis, Nurse’s Health Study, prospective cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 2 August 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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