Television viewing time among statin users and non-users. The Polish Norwegian Study (PONS)

Sedentary behavior has emerged as an independent cardiovascular disease risk factor. Uncertainty exists about the behaviors of statin users, who may exhibit either a healthy adherer or a false reassurance effect. We conducted this study in order to assess and compare TV viewing among statin users and nonusers. We used data from a cross-sectional study of 12,754 participants, from south-east Poland, age 45 to 64 years in 2010-11. Statin use during last 30 days was recorded by trained nurses. Participants reported time spent viewing TV/week. There were 1728 (13.5%) statin users of which 628 (36.34%) had cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of viewing TV ≥ 21 h/week was higher among statin users (29.72%) compared to non-users (23.10%) and remained 15% higher after adjusting for age, sex, education, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic diseases (prevalence ratio, PR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.25). We found a similar pattern in both those with and without prevalent cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, we found a higher prevalence of prolonged TV-viewing among statin users than non-users. Future studies are needed to explore innovative behavioral interventions and patient counseling strategies to reduce TV viewing among statin users.