Evaluating the cardiovascular benefits of stair climbing: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Physical inactivity causes a significant burden from cardiovascular disease worldwide. As sedentary behaviours and associated health risks become increasingly prevalent, there is a growing imperative to explore accessible and practical strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between physical activity in the form of stair climbing and cardiovascular risk.

A systematic literature search of the PubMed database was conducted from inception until the 9th October 2023. The search criteria used were: ["((Stairs) OR (Stair climbing)) AND ((Cardiac) OR (Heart) OR (Cardiovascular))"]. Randomised controlled trials or observational studies including stair climbing as a variable were included. The outcomes of interest were cardiovascular mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and heart failure. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Review Manager (RevMan) software.

The database search yielded 725 studies, out of which, 8 studies with 473 197 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled analysis of 5 studies and 455 578 patients revealed that stair climbing was associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.83, p=0.0008) [figure 1]. Further analysis of these 5 studies revealed that stair climbing was also associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56-0.87, p=0.002) [figure 2].

Physical activity in the form of stair climbing is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These findings highlight the importance of promoting everyday activities, even within the workplace and home, to foster healthier lifestyles and mitigate the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases.