Physical inactivity and long-term rates of community-acquired sepsis

• Sepsis is a major public health problem.
• No studies have linked physical inactivity with long-term sepsis rates.
• We studied 30,183 subjects in the national REGARDS cohort.
• Low weekly exercise (< 1 h/day) was associated with increased sepsis rates.

ObjectiveThe authors sought to determine the association between physical inactivity (characterized by exercise and television watching levels) and long-term rates of community-acquired sepsis.MethodsThe study utilized a population-based cohort of 30,183 adult (≥ 45 years) community dwelling adults. Subjects reported weekly exercise (low = none, medium = 1–3 times/week, high = ≥ 4 times/week) and daily television watching (low = < 1 h/day, medium = 1–3 h/day, high = ≥ 4 h/day) levels. The authors evaluated the association between exercise, television watching and rates of sepsis, defined as hospital treatment for a serious infection with ≥ 2 Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria.ResultsAmong 30,183 participants, 1500 experienced a sepsis event. Reported weekly exercise was: high 8798 (29.2%), medium 10,695 (35.4%), and low 10,240 (33.9%). Where available, reported daily television watching was: low 4615 (19.6%), medium 11,587 (49.3%) and high 7317 (31.1%). Decreased weekly exercise was associated with increased adjusted sepsis rates (high — referent; medium — HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96–1.20; low — 1.33, 1.13–1.56). Daily television watching was not associated with sepsis rates. Sepsis rates were highest among those with both low exercise and high television watching levels (HR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.10–2.01).ConclusionsPhysical inactivity may be associated with increased long-term rates of community-acquired sepsis.