Independent and Joint Associations of Circadian Rhythm Patterns and Physical Activity Levels With Venous...

Area of Science:

• Circadian Biology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health concern with incompletely understood risk factors.
• The role of circadian rhythm disruption in VTE development requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the independent and combined associations of rest-activity circadian rhythm and physical activity (PA) with VTE incidence.
• To assess the impact of circadian rhythm and PA on VTE risk in a large UK Biobank cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 89,473 UK Biobank participants with a median follow-up of 12.7 years.
• Assessment of rest-activity rhythm using accelerometer-derived relative amplitude (RA) and PA via average daily acceleration.
• VTE event ascertainment using ICD-10 codes and evaluation through Cox regression models.

Main Results:

• Each standard deviation increase in RA was linked to a 12% reduction in VTE risk.
• Low PA below 30.4 milligravity was associated with a 37% increased VTE risk.
• Individuals with both low RA and low PA faced a 54% higher VTE risk compared to those with high RA and high PA.

Conclusions:

• Disrupted circadian rhythms and insufficient PA are independently and jointly associated with increased VTE risk.
• Circadian and activity monitoring, potentially via wearables, may offer new avenues for VTE risk stratification.
• Findings highlight the importance of circadian health and physical activity in cardiovascular disease prevention.