Rates of sedentary behaviour are rising

Rates of sedentary behaviour are rising and, according to recent research, this puts many Australians at risk of cardiac disease and premature death. Dr Michelle Rogerson, Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Heart Health (ACHH), states that “sedentary behaviour is particularly high among people with CVD and is associated with poor health outcomes. Currently, there are no guidelines that (we) are aware of worldwide for routine screening of sedentary behaviour in cardiac rehabilitation, nor is there a validated tool to measure sedentary behaviour in cardiac rehabilitation patients”. Her commentary piece, written with colleagues from ACHH and the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association, to be published in the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing in April, calls for routine screening of sedentary behaviour in cardiac rehabilitation.