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Association of Standing with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Adults

  • Cardiovascular Disease (R Foraker, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Physical activity guidelines and epidemiological studies are mixed regarding whether standing can reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. This review describes definitions and measures of standing, reviews prospective studies of standing with CVD risk and mortality, and discusses related cardiovascular mechanisms.

Recent Findings

Studies observe that, while higher all-day standing is associated with reduced mortality, higher occupational standing has adverse/null associations with subclinical or incident CVD. These differences may reflect distinct cardiovascular mechanisms. All-day standing is likely intermittent and volitional, whereas occupational standing is likely prolonged and obligatory. Limitations of the existing literature include suboptimal/variable measures of standing, limited length of follow-up, and methodological differences in populations and outcomes that preclude direct comparison of research studying all-day vs. occupational standing.

Summary

The relationship between standing and CVD risk may differ across contexts. Future research should clarify the cardiovascular effects of all-day vs. occupational standing, including testing interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, 32 Oak Hill Court, Room 220, Pittsburgh, PA, 15216, USA

    Bethany Barone Gibbs

  2. Department of Medicine, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Keith M. Diaz

  3. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA

    Robert J. Kowalsky

  4. Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, and the Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Peter M. Smith

  5. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Lee Stoner

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  1. Bethany Barone Gibbs
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  2. Keith M. Diaz
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  3. Robert J. Kowalsky
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Correspondence to Bethany Barone Gibbs.

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Gibbs, B.B., Diaz, K.M., Kowalsky, R.J. et al. Association of Standing with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Adults. Curr Epidemiol Rep 8, 200–211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-021-00276-3

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