A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine explored the sex-specific dose-response associations between vigorous physical activity (VPA) in exercisers and vigorous incidental physical activity (VILPA) in non-exercisers with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and its subtypes, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke.
VPA refers to deliberate, structured exercise such as running or cycling, while VILPA involves unplanned, incidental bouts of vigorous activity from daily tasks like brisk walking or climbing stairs. Exercisers had a broader range of VPA (0–45 minutes per day) with longer, more sustained bouts, reflecting the deliberate nature of their physical activity. Non-exercisers, on the other hand, engaged in VILPA for shorter durations (0–17 minutes per day), characterized by sporadic and opportunistic bouts.
VPA was linked to significant reductions in MACE and its subtypes for both sexes, with no major differences between men and women. However, a notable exception was stroke, where dose-response associations were observed only in men. For instance, a median daily VPA of 8.1 minutes was associated with a 32% reduced risk of MACE in men.
Among non-exercisers, women exhibited stronger dose-response associations with VILPA compared to men. A median daily VILPA of 3.4 minutes in women was linked to substantial reductions in cardiovascular risks, including 45% reduced hazards for MACE, 51% for myocardial infarction, and 67% for heart failure. In contrast, the associations in men were less pronounced and more inconsistent.
A critical factor contributing to the observed sex differences is relative intensity. Women engaged in VILPA at a higher percentage of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) compared to men (83.2% vs. 70.5%). This higher relative intensity likely amplifies the cardiovascular benefits for women during incidental physical activity.
These findings emphasize the need for personalized physical activity recommendations that account for sex-specific physiological and behavioral factors, thereby optimizing cardiovascular outcomes for both men and women.
Sources: British Journal of Sports Medicine
