Physical Activity at Work and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Results from the MONICA Augsburg Study

Abstract

In the MONICA Augsburg study the relationship between physical activity at work, cardiovascular risk factors, incidence of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and total mortality was investigated in employed men. The MONICA Augsburg baseline survey of 1984/85 was designed as a cross-sectional study with follow-up. Physical activity was determined in 45-64 year old men by interview (n = 1074, 83.6%) and by a 7-day activity diary (n = 797, 62.0%). Employed men were categorized into an active versus inactive group based on interview data on physical activity at work (PAW) which had been validated against the 7-day activity diary. When stratified by PAW, age-adjusted means of diastolic (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and total-cholesterol (T-C) were lower and the age-adjusted mean of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was higher in active than in inactive men. A linear regression model controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, and heart rate confirmed this relationship for physical activity at work; regression coefficients: DBP: beta = -2.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] : -3.85(-)-0.91); SBP: beta = -2.87 (95% CI : -5.22(-)-0.52); T-C: beta = -2.80 (95% CI : -9.31-3.71); HDL-C: beta = 3.48 (95% CI : 1.28-5.79). Survey participants were followed-up for a period of 5.8 years. The incidence density (per 1000 person-years) of fatal plus non-fatal MI was 6.8 for active men versus 5.9 for inactive men; the incidence density for total mortality was 11.2 versus 5.9, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Validation of a simplified physical activity record by doubly labeled water technique

“…5 Education, age and body weight are important factors influencing accuracy of physical activity estimations. 4,28,29 It has also been shown that subject compliance is a key limiting factor in the use of physical activity records. 5 For physical activity records, correlation coefficients between 0.6 and 0.8 and a mean difference of 7.9% have been observed.…”

Relationship of leisure-time physical activity and occupational activity to the prevalence of obesity

“…A number of previous studies have focused on all-cause or CVD mortality and morbidity rates or cardiovascular event incidence rates in relation to work 19,22,41 or LTPA. 12,15,18,19,22,41,42 Some studies have also investigated the combined effects of work and LTPA.…”

“…12,15,18,19,22,41,42 Some studies have also investigated the combined effects of work and LTPA. 13,14,16,17,20,21 In those previous studies, body composition was reported as a contributing variable rather than the major variable of interest.…”

A comparison of dietary and non-dietary factors of hypertension and normal blood pressure in a Chinese population

“…34,35 A Japanese prospective cohort study has shown that walking to work and other leisure time physical activity decreased the risk for hypertension in Japanese men. 36 Several population studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between leisure time physical activity and BP levels.…”