Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study

Menglin Han; Yudun Qu; Muhui Zeng; Ziqi Gu; Yan Zhang; Tianxiang Fan; Qian Yang; Zhiqiang Wang; Peichun Gao; Shibo Chen; Kai Fu; David J Hunter; Shuai He; Lixin Zhu; Qing Wang; Lizi Wang; Hongbo Guo; Changhai Ding; Kangling Wang; Zhaohua Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834

Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study

Menglin Han, Yudun Qu, Muhui Zeng, Ziqi Gu, Yan Zhang, Tianxiang Fan, Qian Yang, Zhiqiang Wang, Peichun Gao, Shibo Chen, Kai Fu, David J Hunter, Shuai He, Lixin Zhu, Qing Wang, Lizi Wang, Hongbo Guo, Changhai Ding^*, Kangling Wang^*, Zhaohua Zhu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Bristol Medical School (PHS)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Abstract

Background:
To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with the risk of mortality using observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) designs.

Methods:
In a prospective cohort study based on UK Biobank, data on PA and SB were collected and categorized as three mutually exclusive groups. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models and two-sample MR analysis were performed.

Results:
Compared with low total PA (TPA), intermediate and high TPA were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Compared with low levels, high total sitting time and television viewing time were associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The two-sample MR analysis indicated no causal relationship between genetic predispositions to PA/SB and mortality.

Conclusions:
Although PA was associated with a lower risk, prolonged sitting time was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, two-sample MR did not support a causal effect.

Original language	English
Article number	103834
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geriatric Nursing
Volume	68
Early online date	23 Jan 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2026

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Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Elsevier Inc.

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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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Han, M., Qu, Y., Zeng, M., Gu, Z., Zhang, Y., Fan, T., Yang, Q., Wang, Z., Gao, P., Chen, S., Fu, K., Hunter, D. J., He, S., Zhu, L., Wang, Q., Wang, L., Guo, H., Ding, C., Wang, K., & Zhu, Z. (2026). Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study. Geriatric Nursing, 68, Article 103834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834

@article{3c930f7b22f645dcadd698098557a36e,

title = "Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study",

abstract = "Background: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with the risk of mortality using observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) designs. Methods: In a prospective cohort study based on UK Biobank, data on PA and SB were collected and categorized as three mutually exclusive groups. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models and two-sample MR analysis were performed. Results: Compared with low total PA (TPA), intermediate and high TPA were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Compared with low levels, high total sitting time and television viewing time were associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The two-sample MR analysis indicated no causal relationship between genetic predispositions to PA/SB and mortality. Conclusions: Although PA was associated with a lower risk, prolonged sitting time was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, two-sample MR did not support a causal effect.",

author = "Menglin Han and Yudun Qu and Muhui Zeng and Ziqi Gu and Yan Zhang and Tianxiang Fan and Qian Yang and Zhiqiang Wang and Peichun Gao and Shibo Chen and Kai Fu and Hunter, \{David J\} and Shuai He and Lixin Zhu and Qing Wang and Lizi Wang and Hongbo Guo and Changhai Ding and Kangling Wang and Zhaohua Zhu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834",

language = "English",

volume = "68",

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issn = "0197-4572",

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Han, M, Qu, Y, Zeng, M, Gu, Z, Zhang, Y, Fan, T, Yang, Q, Wang, Z, Gao, P, Chen, S, Fu, K, Hunter, DJ, He, S, Zhu, L, Wang, Q, Wang, L, Guo, H, Ding, C, Wang, K & Zhu, Z 2026, 'Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study', Geriatric Nursing, vol. 68, 103834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality

T2 - An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study

AU - Han, Menglin

AU - Qu, Yudun

AU - Zeng, Muhui

AU - Gu, Ziqi

AU - Zhang, Yan

AU - Fan, Tianxiang

AU - Yang, Qian

AU - Wang, Zhiqiang

AU - Gao, Peichun

AU - Chen, Shibo

AU - Fu, Kai

AU - Hunter, David J

AU - He, Shuai

AU - Zhu, Lixin

AU - Wang, Qing

AU - Wang, Lizi

AU - Guo, Hongbo

AU - Ding, Changhai

AU - Wang, Kangling

AU - Zhu, Zhaohua

PY - 2026/3/1

Y1 - 2026/3/1

N2 - Background: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with the risk of mortality using observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) designs. Methods: In a prospective cohort study based on UK Biobank, data on PA and SB were collected and categorized as three mutually exclusive groups. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models and two-sample MR analysis were performed. Results: Compared with low total PA (TPA), intermediate and high TPA were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Compared with low levels, high total sitting time and television viewing time were associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The two-sample MR analysis indicated no causal relationship between genetic predispositions to PA/SB and mortality. Conclusions: Although PA was associated with a lower risk, prolonged sitting time was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, two-sample MR did not support a causal effect.

AB - Background: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with the risk of mortality using observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) designs. Methods: In a prospective cohort study based on UK Biobank, data on PA and SB were collected and categorized as three mutually exclusive groups. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models and two-sample MR analysis were performed. Results: Compared with low total PA (TPA), intermediate and high TPA were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Compared with low levels, high total sitting time and television viewing time were associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The two-sample MR analysis indicated no causal relationship between genetic predispositions to PA/SB and mortality. Conclusions: Although PA was associated with a lower risk, prolonged sitting time was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, two-sample MR did not support a causal effect.

U2 - 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834

DO - 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103834

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 41579440

SN - 0197-4572

VL - 68

JO - Geriatric Nursing

JF - Geriatric Nursing

M1 - 103834

ER -

Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with mortality: An observational analysis and Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

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