Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. An inactive lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This scientific work shows that patients with cardiovascular disease spend an hour more per day sitting than the general population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary time increased even more. To subsequently combat the inactivity pandemic, the SIT LESS intervention was developed in collaboration with patients and healthcare professionals. This intervention consists of education about the detrimental health effects of sedentary behaviour, motivational interviewing and goal setting. Patients additionally received an activity tracker connected to their smartphone to continuously monitor their sedentary behaviour. The SIT LESS study showed that it is feasible to significantly reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with cardiovascular disease using this dedicated programme. This new SIT LESS approach is a promising tool to further reduce the severity of cardiovascular disease and to prevent mortality.
Bram van Bakel (1990) obtained his medical degree cum laude in 2016. After his graduation, he started working at the cardiology department of the Jeroen Bosch Hospital. In 2018, Bram started his PhD at the Radboudumc. Currently, Bram works as a resident in cardiology.