Light physical activity, including walking and household chores, is associated with a lower risk of death for adults with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study found that a one-hour increase in daily light activity was linked to a 14% to 20% reduction in mortality risk over 14 years, with the most pronounced benefits for people in advanced stages of the syndrome.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome encompasses conditions including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity, affecting nearly 90% of U.S. adults. The syndrome progresses through stages 0 to 4, with higher stages indicating greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Researchers analyzed data from approximately 7,200 adults in the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using accelerometers to measure activity levels over up to seven days.
The study defined light physical activity as movements that do not cause breathlessness, such as yoga, casual walking, stretching, and household chores. While moderate-to-vigorous activity is typically recommended in general physical activity guidelines, this intensity may not be feasible for adults with advanced CKM syndrome. The research suggests light activity offers a more accessible alternative that still provides meaningful health benefits.
For individuals in CKM syndrome stages 2, 3, and 4, light physical activity showed significant associations with lower mortality risk. The benefits increased with higher CKM stages: increasing activity from 90 minutes to two hours daily was associated with a 2.2% risk reduction in stage 2 compared to a 4.2% reduction in stage 4. Study lead author Joseph Sartini noted that light physical activity represents an overlooked treatment tool that can help improve heart health for people with CKM syndrome, particularly those in later stages.
The implications of this research are substantial given the prevalence of CKM syndrome components in the population. With most adults having at least one risk factor, light activity presents a practical approach to slowing disease progression and reducing mortality risk. Bethany Barone Gibbs, an American Heart Association volunteer not involved in the study, emphasized that light-intensity activities provide opportunities for energy expenditure, movement, and circulation—healthy physiological processes assumed to relate to better health, though research in this area has been limited.
Study limitations include its observational nature, which can only identify associations rather than establish cause and effect. Researchers cannot definitively conclude that increasing light physical activity directly decreases death risk, and it remains possible that individuals with more advanced illness were predisposed to higher mortality risk and less light activity. The American Heart Association notes that statements and conclusions in the manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's institutional policy or position. Overall financial information about the Association is available here.
This research highlights the potential of light physical activity as a viable intervention for millions of adults managing multiple chronic conditions, offering a practical approach to improving health outcomes without requiring the intensity of traditional exercise recommendations.
