Leisure-time physical activities and the risk of cardiovascular mortality in the Malmö diet and Cancer study

Abstract

Background The association between leisure-time physical activity and cardiovascular mortality has been previously studied, but few studies have focused on specific activities and intensities. Methods The association between different leisure-time physical activities and cardiovascular mortality was investigated among 25,876 individuals without diabetes or cardiovascular disease from the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer Study cohort. The individuals estimated the average duration spent on 17 physical activities at baseline in 1991–1996 and after 5 years. Cardiovascular mortality was obtained from a register during a mean of 20 years of follow-up. Results A total leisure-time physical activity of 15–25 metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours/week was associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 15–25 vs < 7.5 MET-h/week =0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.93), with no further risk reduction at higher levels. Several high-intensity activities (i.e., lawn tennis and running) and moderate-intensity activities (i.e., golf, cycling and gardening) were associated with a reduced risk. Individuals who engaged in high-intensity physical activity for an average of 2.29 MET h/week (30 min/week) had an 18% (95% CI 0.72–0.93) reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality compared with non-participants, and no further risk reductions were observed at higher levels. Decreased risk was observed among individuals who had started (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32–0.97) or continued (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36–0.66) high-intensity activities at the five-year follow-up. Conclusions Moderate- and high-intensity leisure-time physical activities reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality. With regard to total leisure-time physical activity, the largest risk reduction was observed for 15–25 MET-h/week (equivalent to walking for approximately 5 h/week).

Components of a healthy diet and different types of physical activity and risk of atherothrombotic ischemic stroke: A prospective cohort study

“…A decrease in risk for aIS was observed to about a total PA level of approximately 240 MET-hours/week, beyond this threshold no added advantage was observed, and no significant linear trend was seen for total PA level. Similarly, individuals with low leisure-time PA level appeared to be at higher risk, but no significant benefit or harm was seen with higher levels of leisure-time PA. Another study on the same cohort with CVD as endpoint also concluded that those who were physically inactive have the highest reduction in risk (48). A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis including 26 studies examining different domains of PA and risk of IS found a significant association between higher total PA level and lower risk of IS.…”

Positive impacts of leisure-time physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness, co-morbidity level, cardiovascular health and quality of life among midlife adults: a cross-sectional study of a Nigerian population

“…This association could be mediated by the impacts of LTPA on individual traditional cardiovascular risk factors [ 53 ]. These impacts may be attributed to the reduced cardiovascular mortality in moderate- and high-intensity LTPA adherents [ 49 , 54 ], and the largest reduction is observed with approximately 300 min of walking per week [ 54 ], largest intensity of LTPA and after 10 years of LTPA behavior [ 50 ]. This amount of LTPA/week translates to approximately 150–300 min/wk of long-term vigorous-intensity LTPA or 300 to 600 min/wk of long-term moderate-intensity LTPA [ 55 ].…”

Positive Impacts of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Co- Morbidity Level, Cardiovascular Health and Quality of Life among Midlife Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

“…48 This association could be mediated by the impacts of LTPA on individual traditional cardiovascular risk factors. 51 These impacts may be attributed to the reduced cardiovascular mortality in moderate-and high-intensity LTPA adherents, 47,52 and the largest reduction is observed with approximately 300 minutes of walking per week, 52 largest intensity of LTPA and after 10 years of LTPA behaviour. 48 This amount of LTPA/week translates to approximately 150 to 300 min/wk of long-term vigorous-intensity LTPA or 300 to 600 min/wk of long-term moderate-intensity LTPA.…”