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Cited by 73Liver Disease Diagnosis and TreatmentPhysical Activity and HealthAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of liver disease in the prospective UK Biobank cohort

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Schneider, Carolin V., Zandvakili, Inuk, Thaiss, Christoph A., Schneider, Kai Markus·2021·JHEP Reports
DOI 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100263PMC PMC8056270
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Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous studies have identified physical activity as an important lifestyle factor in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases (CLD). However, most studies were short in follow-up, and based on self-reported activity. Moreover, it is unknown whether physical activity affects the risk of liver disease development in the general population. Herein, we aimed to clarify the association between physical activity and CLD by examining the risk of liver disease and progression in relation to accelerometer-based physical activity in a large subset of prospectively recruited participants in the UK Biobank. METHODS: We analysed data from 96,688 participants that recorded their physical activity through the use of a wrist accelerometer. Relative risks for development of liver diseases were calculated using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models. In a subgroup of participants without any previously diagnosed liver disease (n = 95,974), a total of 374 liver disease cases were diagnosed during follow-up (mean = 5.5 years). RESULTS: Participants in the top compared with the bottom quartile of physical activity had a reduced risk of both overall CLD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41 [0.29-0.59]) and NAFLD (HR: 0.39 [0.21-0.70]). An activity increase of an additional 2,500 steps per day, was associated with a 38% reduction in CLD and a 47% reduction in NAFLD development, independent of adiposity. In the subgroup of participants with previously diagnosed liver disease (n = 714), participants in the top compared with the bottom quartile of physical activity had a striking 89% risk reduction in liver-related death (HR: 0.11 [0.02-0.86]), and 85% risk reduction in all-cause mortality (adjusted HR: 0.15 [0.05-0.44]). Walking an additional 2,500 steps per day was associated with 44% reduction in liver disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Greater physical activity is associated with a dose-dependent reduction in liver disease, which appears to be independent of adiposity. LAY SUMMARY: In this study, we aimed to clarify the association between accelerometer-measured physical activity and chronic liver disease by examining risk of overall and specific liver diseases and their progression in relation to accelerometer-based physical activity in 96,688 participants in the UK Biobank. Our results show a clear, dose-dependent protective association between accelerometer-measured physical activity and liver disease development and progression. The linkage of device-measured activity could therefore create a framework for using wearables for personalised prevention of liver diseases.

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Cited by

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Authors
Schneider, C. V., Zandvakili, I., Thaiss, C. A., & Schneider, K. M.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Schneider, Carolin V.
ORCID
Venue
JHEP Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-06
Volume
3
Issue
3
Pages
100263
ISSN
2589-5559 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100263
PMC
PMC8056270
OpenAlex
W3135908056
Cited by
73
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6
FWCI
8.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • JHEP Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
chronic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver disease progression, liver-related mortality, all-cause mortality, accelerometer-measured steps, walking, dose-response relationship, adiposity, UK Biobank, liver disease screening

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