La Marató 2022 dedicated to cardiovascular diseases finances an IRBLleida project to evaluate the benefits of active breaks in the workplace

A project of the Health Cures Research Group (GReCS) of the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida), led by the researcher and professor at the University of Lleida, Montse Gea, will evaluate adherence to an active breaks intervention at the workplace and its effect on cardiovascular risk factors, thanks to funding from the 2022 edition of the Marathon. The project 'The effect of an active breaks intervention in the workplace on the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in call centre workers: a mixed methods study' is one of the 37 projects funded by Marathon 2022 that have been announced today. It will have a budget of €193,161.43.

Over the next few years, the 71 research teams that will carry out the 37 winning projects will transform donations into answers to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that are the leading cause of death in developed countries.

The project, led by IRBLleida, will have the collaboration of the Emergency Medical System (SEM) of Catalonia, the Catalan Society of Occupational Health, the Polytechnic School of the University of Lleida, the University of Toronto and the Group of Precision Medicine in Chronic Diseases of IRBLleida. The aim of the project is to increase physical activity, given that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The aim of the project is to increase physical activity, given that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the risk factors that most affects cardiovascular disease, and its consistency in the 1640 call centre workers linked to emergency services in Catalonia, given that they work 8, 12 and even 24-hour shifts.

"In order for this population to increase their physical activity and maintain it over time, improve the parameters linked to cardiovascular diseases (blood pressure, fats and sugar in the blood, quality of sleep, etc.), we will design a programme of active breaks in the workplace based on the tastes and preferences of the workers themselves, who will decide the types of exercises to perform in groups. Later, by means of a mobile application, they will be able to follow the exercises, as well as incorporate data, receive advice or messages of congratulations" explained the researcher, Montse Gea.

Gea explained that a team of experts from the world of physical activity and sport, physiotherapy, nursing, occupational health, public health, computer science and biology has been set up to design and monitor the active breaks programme. "This multidisciplinary character allows us to approach the problem from different perspectives and to integrate the vision of the workers themselves, as well as that of those responsible for monitoring the programme.