Active Commuting as a Factor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Active commuting (AC) is proposed to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Existing evidence linking AC and CVD risk requires further clarification.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize existing research on the association between active commuting and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• To qualitatively assess the current evidence base regarding AC and CVD incidence.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, BnL) for observational studies up to December 2022.
• Included studies focused on various commuting modes (walking, cycling, driving, public transport) and CVD outcomes (incident CVD, IHD, IS, HS, CHD).
• The review synthesized data from five studies encompassing 491,352 participants with follow-up periods of 5-20 years.

Main Results:

• The current body of evidence suggests that active commuting is associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• Despite methodological heterogeneity across studies, a consistent protective effect of AC was observed.
• Specific outcomes included incident cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and coronary heart disease.

Conclusions:

• Active commuting demonstrates potential as a preventive strategy for cardiovascular disease.
• Further research is recommended to standardize methodologies and inform public health policies.
• Promoting AC can contribute to both public health and environmental sustainability goals.