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Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries
Katzmarzyk PT, Friedenreich C, Shiroma EJ, Lee IM.. British journal of sports medicine, 2021-03-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives Physical inactivity is a risk factor for premature mortality and several non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to estimate the global burden associated with physical inactivity, and to examine differences by country income and region. Methods Population-level, prevalence-based population attributable risks (PAR) were calculated for 168 countries to estimate how much disease could be averted if physical inactivity were eliminated. We calculated PARs (percentage of cases attributable to inactivity) for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and non-communicable diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, oesophagus, stomach and kidney. Results Globally, 7.2% and 7.6% of all-cause and cardiovascular disease deaths, respectively, are attributable to physical inactivity. The proportions of non-communicable diseases attributable to physical inactivity range from 1.6% for hypertension to 8.1% for dementia. There was an increasing gradient across income groups; PARs were more than double in high-income compared with low-income countries. However, 69% of total deaths and 74% of cardiovascular disease deaths associated with physical inactivity are occurring in middle-income countries, given their population size. Regional differences were also observed, with the PARs occurring in Latin America/Caribbean and high-income Western and Asia-Pacific countries, and the lowest burden occurring in Oceania and East/Southeast Asia. Conclusion The global burden associated with physical inactivity is substantial. The relative burden is greatest in high-income countries; however, the greatest number of people (absolute burden) affected by physical inactivity are living in middle-income countries given the size of their populations.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Katzmarzyk, P. T., Friedenreich, C., Shiroma, E. J., & Lee, I. M. (2022). Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries. British journal of sports medicine. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103640
Vancouver
Katzmarzyk PT, Friedenreich C, Shiroma EJ, Lee IM. Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries. British journal of sports medicine. 2022. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-103640. PMID: 33782046.
BibTeX
@article{katzmarzyk2022-33782046,
author = {Katzmarzyk, P. T. and Friedenreich, C. and Shiroma, E. J. and Lee, I. M.},
title = {{Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries}},
journal = {British journal of sports medicine},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1136/bjsports-2020-103640},
pmid = {33782046},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103640}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The purpose of this study was to estimate the global burden associated with physical inactivity, and to examine differences by country income and region.
- Results Globally, 7.2% and 7.6% of all-cause and cardiovascular disease deaths, respectively, are attributable to physical inactivity.
- There was an increasing gradient across income groups; PARs were more than double in high-income compared with low-income countries.
- However, 69% of total deaths and 74% of cardiovascular disease deaths associated with physical inactivity are occurring in middle-income countries, given their population size.
- Conclusion The global burden associated with physical inactivity is substantial.
Why it matters
This global analysis estimated that 8.1% of dementia cases could be attributed to physical inactivity if it were eliminated. This is an estimate of how much disease might be avoided, not proof that increasing activity prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Effect size7.2%; 7.6%; 1.6%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (British journal of sports medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | British Journal of Sports Medicine: journal h-index 312 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 812 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 135.3 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 61.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 557 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author I‐Min Lee: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33782046) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103640
- PubMed: 33782046
- Original source →
- Free full text: British Journal of Sports Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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