Light physical activity was 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 increasing daily light activity by one hour was linked to a 14% to 20% reduction in mortality risk over 14 years, with the most pronounced benefits observed in advanced stages of the condition.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome affects nearly 90% of U.S. adults and includes components such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood glucose, excess weight, and reduced kidney function. These factors collectively increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart failure more than any single component alone. The condition is categorized into stages 0 through 4, with higher stages indicating greater cardiovascular risk.
"There's growing evidence that lighter activity like walking or gardening can be beneficial for heart health," said study author Michael Fang, Ph.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "However, studies have not examined the long-term benefits for those with heart disease or those at high risk for heart disease."
The research analyzed data from approximately 7,200 adults in the 2003 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using accelerometers to measure activity levels over several days. Light physical activity was defined as activities that don't cause breathlessness, including yoga, casual walking, stretching, and household chores. The study specifically examined associations between light activity and mortality across different CKM syndrome stages.
Researchers found that light physical activity was significantly associated with lower mortality risk in CKM syndrome stages 2, 3, and 4. The benefits increased with higher CKM stages, with a 2.2% risk reduction in stage 2 compared to a 4.2% reduction in stage 4 when increasing activity from 90 minutes to two hours daily. Study lead author Joseph Sartini noted that "light physical activity is an overlooked treatment tool that can help improve heart health for people with CKM syndrome."
This research is particularly significant because moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity recommended in general physical activity guidelines may not be feasible for adults with advanced CKM syndrome. The findings suggest that accessible, low-intensity movements could provide meaningful health benefits for this population. Bethany Barone Gibbs, Ph.D., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer not involved in the study, emphasized that "light intensity activities provide a great opportunity to promote energy expenditure, movement and circulation - all healthy physiological processes that we assume are related to better health."
The study has limitations as it is observational and cannot establish causality. Researchers acknowledge that individuals with more advanced illness might have been predisposed to higher mortality risk and less light activity. Additional financial information about the American Heart Association is available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information. The manuscript can be viewed online after January 7, 2026.
