Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40234866›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2025

Weekend warrior and the risk of specific disease: a meta-epidemiology study.

Keqi Fu, Jiale Wang, Hejing Pan, Lin Huang, Xuanlin Li

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Keqi Fu *Department of Public Physical, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Jiale Wang *The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang, Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Hejing PanCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Lin HuangCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Xuanlin LiCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China. lixuanlinhnzy@163.com.

Funding

Academician Matching Program 361100E002Research Project of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University 2023JKZKTS27
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe "Weekend Warrior (WW)" physical activity (PA) pattern, involving intensive exercise on 1-2 days per week, has become increasingly popular. The WW PA pattern demonstrates protective effects against a broad spectrum of chronic diseases; however, regarding a comprehensive investigation into the disease-specific protective mechanisms and long-term health outcomes of the subject, it remains unclear. WW exhibits protective effects against various diseases; however, there is a conspicuous scarcity of literature investigating its protective mechanisms across different disease conditions. The objective of this meta-epidemiology study was to exam WW's protective effects by synthesizing data from published observational studies.

methodsA systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science through February 19, 2025. The search focused on observational studies reporting the association between the WW PA pattern and various health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases, mortality, metabolic syndrome, and mental health, compared to inactive individuals. Odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the association with ORs of factors, such as sex, study type, and PA assessment.

resultsTwenty-seven studies encompassing 1,204,486 participants were included. The pooled analysis indicated that the WW exercise pattern significantly reduced the risk of CVD mortality (OR = 0.742, 95% CI: 0.568-0.968), I

conclusionThe WW PA pattern is associated with significant health benefits, including reduced risks of mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. This pattern may be a viable alternative for individuals unable to engage in daily physical activity. Future research should further explore the long-term effects and refine exercise recommendations for various population subgroups. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024587216.

Indexed as

ExerciseCardiovascular DiseasesHumansMental DisordersMetabolic SyndromeObservational Studies as TopicRisk FactorsCardiovascular outcomeMeta-analysisMortalityNeurological disorderObservational studyWeekend warrior

Identifiers

PMID40234866
PMCPMC11998413

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.