Takeaway
- In this retrospective analysis of data from Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study, data set showed no significant independent association between time spent watching television and risk for stroke.
- However, the author’s caution need for further studies, as their findings may be underpowered.
Why this matters
- A low level of physical activity is an established risk factor for stroke, but little is known about the importance of common sedentary TV viewing behaviour to stroke risk.
Study design
- Retrospective analysis of 11,247 participants (≥25 years old) from Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study who had a biomedical examination at baseline assessment.
- 6400 and 4614 participants underwent follow-up assessments in wave 2 and 3, respectively.
- Funding: None disclosed.
Key results
- During the study period, 153 participants had confirmed stroke whereas 9207 participants had no stroke.
- Of 153 participants with stroke during the study period, 23 had prior stroke and 126 did not.
- Time spent watching television (minutes/day) at baseline was significantly associated with stroke outcome (OR, 1.003; P=.001).
- However, this association extinguished in models adjusted for age and sex (aOR, 1.000; P=.83) and age, sex, education, smoking status, alcohol intake, and diet quality (aOR, 1.000; P=.87).
- Age was positively correlated with time spent watching television (Spearman's r, 0.19; P<.001).
Limitations
- Total time spent watching television was self-reported.
- Time spent watching television is an incomplete indication for time spent being sedentary.
References
References
