Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies

Abstract Background The causality between movement behaviors [sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA)] with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma remained unclear. This study aimed to examine whether different movement behaviors are risk factors for AR and asthma based on ep...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyu Wang, Yaya Gao, Lin Lou, Wenjie Yang, Wei Xu, Yu Zhao, Jianjun Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03779-7
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author Xiaoyu Wang
Yaya Gao
Lin Lou
Wenjie Yang
Wei Xu
Yu Zhao
Jianjun Ren
author_facet Xiaoyu Wang
Yaya Gao
Lin Lou
Wenjie Yang
Wei Xu
Yu Zhao
Jianjun Ren
author_sort Xiaoyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The causality between movement behaviors [sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA)] with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma remained unclear. This study aimed to examine whether different movement behaviors are risk factors for AR and asthma based on epidemiological and genetic evidence, and to characterize these associations in diverse populations. Methods Based on information of questionnaires and registrations provided by UK Biobank, and large-scale GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) data, we designed a cohort study with a follow-up period exceeding 11 years and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal associations between movement behaviors (SB and PA) and AR and asthma. Results Compared to participants with low SB, those with increased SB had higher risk for asthma (moderate: HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, p = 0.019; high: HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10–1.18, p < 0.001). In contrast, more PA was a preventive factor for asthma (moderate: HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81–0.97, p = 0.006; high: HR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.83–0.99, p = 0.026). However, no correlation was found between movement behaviors and AR. The consistent associations between movement behaviors and asthma were also confirmed in male, younger (< 60) and older ( > = 60) populations. However, in females, only an association between SB and increased asthma risk was observed, while no protective effect of PA on asthma was identified. Moreover, genetically-predicted causality was observed between SB and asthma as well as PA and asthma by MR analysis (SB: OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04–1.29, p = 0.009; PA: OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00, p = 0.046), which was consistent with the findings of our cohort studies. Conclusions This study highlights the risk of asthma associated with SB and emphasizes the role of PA in mitigating this risk. However, no significant association was found between movement behaviors and AR. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-0acff5b64afe402a88d3fc951277322d2025-08-20T03:45:22ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662025-07-0125111110.1186/s12890-025-03779-7Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studiesXiaoyu Wang0Yaya Gao1Lin Lou2Wenjie Yang3Wei Xu4Yu Zhao5Jianjun Ren6Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter of Biostatistics, Design, Measurement and Evaluation (CBDME), West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Dalla, Lana School of Public HealthDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background The causality between movement behaviors [sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA)] with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma remained unclear. This study aimed to examine whether different movement behaviors are risk factors for AR and asthma based on epidemiological and genetic evidence, and to characterize these associations in diverse populations. Methods Based on information of questionnaires and registrations provided by UK Biobank, and large-scale GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) data, we designed a cohort study with a follow-up period exceeding 11 years and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal associations between movement behaviors (SB and PA) and AR and asthma. Results Compared to participants with low SB, those with increased SB had higher risk for asthma (moderate: HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, p = 0.019; high: HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10–1.18, p < 0.001). In contrast, more PA was a preventive factor for asthma (moderate: HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81–0.97, p = 0.006; high: HR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.83–0.99, p = 0.026). However, no correlation was found between movement behaviors and AR. The consistent associations between movement behaviors and asthma were also confirmed in male, younger (< 60) and older ( > = 60) populations. However, in females, only an association between SB and increased asthma risk was observed, while no protective effect of PA on asthma was identified. Moreover, genetically-predicted causality was observed between SB and asthma as well as PA and asthma by MR analysis (SB: OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04–1.29, p = 0.009; PA: OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00, p = 0.046), which was consistent with the findings of our cohort studies. Conclusions This study highlights the risk of asthma associated with SB and emphasizes the role of PA in mitigating this risk. However, no significant association was found between movement behaviors and AR. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03779-7Sedentary behaviorPhysical activityAllergic rhinitisAsthmaPopulation-based cohortMendelian randomization
spellingShingle Xiaoyu Wang
Yaya Gao
Lin Lou
Wenjie Yang
Wei Xu
Yu Zhao
Jianjun Ren
Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Sedentary behavior
Physical activity
Allergic rhinitis
Asthma
Population-based cohort
Mendelian randomization
title Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
title_full Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
title_fullStr Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
title_full_unstemmed Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
title_short Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
title_sort sedentary behaviors physical activity and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma evidence from cohort and mendelian randomization studies
topic Sedentary behavior
Physical activity
Allergic rhinitis
Asthma
Population-based cohort
Mendelian randomization
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03779-7
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