Routine Assessment and Promotion of Physical Activity in Healthcare Settings: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Circulation. 2018 May 1;137(18):e495-e522. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000559. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Abstract

Physical inactivity is one of the most prevalent major health risk factors, with 8 in 10 US adults not meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines, and is associated with a high burden of cardiovascular disease. Improving and maintaining recommended levels of physical activity leads to reductions in metabolic, hemodynamic, functional, body composition, and epigenetic risk factors for noncommunicable chronic diseases. Physical activity also has a significant role, in many cases comparable or superior to drug interventions, in the prevention and management of >40 conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, Alzheimer disease, and arthritis. Whereas most of the modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors included in the American Heart Association's My Life Check - Life's Simple 7 are evaluated routinely in clinical practice (glucose and lipid profiles, blood pressure, obesity, and smoking), physical activity is typically not assessed. The purpose of this statement is to provide a comprehensive review of the evidence on the feasibility, validity, and effectiveness of assessing and promoting physical activity in healthcare settings for adult patients. It also adds concrete recommendations for healthcare systems, clinical and community care providers, fitness professionals, the technology industry, and other stakeholders in order to catalyze increased adoption of physical activity assessment and promotion in healthcare settings and to contribute to meeting the American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goals.

Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; electronic health records; exercise; healthy lifestyle; prevention and control; risk factors.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • American Heart Association
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Exercise*
  • Health Promotion*
  • Health Status
  • Healthy Lifestyle*
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Protective Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk Reduction Behavior*
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • United States / epidemiology