Television Viewing Time and Stroke Risk: Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Study (1999-2012)

Having a low level of physical activity is an established risk factor for stroke, but little is known about the importance of common sedentary behavior-television viewing-to stroke risk.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data that were collected as part of the longitudinal Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study. Stroke events reported during the study (between baseline assessment in 1999-2000 and April 2011) were confirmed using adjudication based on medical records. Baseline data on minutes per week spent watching television were used as the exposure variable. Other variables were collected in assessments at wave 2 (2004-05) and wave 3 (2011-2012). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Among the full Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study population (n = 11,247), there were 153 participants with confirmed stroke during the study period, and 9207 participants with no stroke in this period. Participants who went on to have their first stroke during the study had significantly higher levels of TV viewing time at baseline than those who did not have a stroke (P = .001). This association was not present (P = .83), however, when age and sex were included in the regression model.

In the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study dataset, there was no evidence that more TV viewing is independently associated with risk of stroke, although analyses may have been underpowered.