Should workers be physically active after work? Associations of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels—An individual participant data meta-analysis

Bart Cillekens, Pieter Coenen*, Maaike A. Huysmans, Andreas Holtermann, Richard P. Troiano, Paul Jarle Mork, Steinar Krokstad, Els Clays, Dirk De Bacquer, Mette Aadahl, Line Lund Kårhus, Anette Sjøl, Lars Bo Andersen, Jussi Kauhanen, Ari Voutilainen, Richard Pulsford, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Uri Goldbourt, Annette Peters, Barbara ThorandAnnika Rosengren, Lena Björck, Kyle Sprow, Kristin Franzon, Miguel Rodriguez-Barranco, Leila Luján-Barroso, Lars Alfredsson, Martin Bahls, Till Ittermann, Miriam Wanner, Matthias Bopp, Jacob Louis Marott, Peter Schnohr, Børge G. Nordestgaarda, Knut Eirik Dalene, Ulf Ekelund, Johan Clausen, Magnus T. Jensen, Christina Bjørk Petersen, Niklas Krause, Jos Twisk, Willem van Mechelen, Allard J. van der Beek

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background

There is insufficient evidence to provide recommendations for leisure-time physical activity among workers across various occupational physical activity levels. This study aimed to assess the association of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels. 


Methods

This study utilized individual participant data from 21 cohort studies, comprising both published and unpublished data. Eligibility criteria included individual-level data on leisure-time and occupational physical activity (categorized as sedentary, low, moderate, and high) along with data on all-cause and/or cardiovascular mortality. A 2-stage individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted, with separate analysis of each study using Cox proportional hazards models (Stage 1). These results were combined using random-effects models (Stage 2). 


Results

Higher leisure-time physical activity levels were associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk across most occupational physical activity levels, for both males and females. Among males with sedentary work, high compared to sedentary leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower all-cause (hazard ratios (HR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.70–0.85) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66–0.87) risk. Among males with high levels of occupational physical activity, high compared to sedentary leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower all-cause (HR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.74–0.97) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.60–1.04) risk, while HRs for low and moderate levels of leisure-time physical activity ranged between 0.87 and 0.97 and were not statistically significant. Among females, most effects were similar but more imprecise, especially in the higher occupational physical activity levels. 


Conclusion

Higher levels of leisure-time physical activity were generally associated with lower mortality risks. However, results for workers with moderate and high occupational physical activity levels, especially women, were more imprecise. Our findings suggests that workers may benefit from engaging in high levels of leisure-time physical activity, irrespective of their level of occupational physical activity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100987
JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science
Volume14
Number of pages12
ISSN2095-2546
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2025

Keywords

  • Individual participant data
  • Job demands
  • Mortality
  • Physical activity paradox

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