Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-07/esoc-lpc071816.php

Public Release: 26-Jul-2016
Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk
45-year study shows benefits of being physically active over a lifetime
European Society of Cardiology

A 45 year study in middle-aged men has shown that the impact of low physical capacity on risk of death is second only to smoking. The research is published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.1

"The benefits of being physically active over a lifetime are clear," said lead author Dr Per Ladenvall, a researcher in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden. "Low physical capacity is a greater risk for death than high blood pressure or high cholesterol."

•••••

Maximal oxygen uptake, called VO2 max, was measured in a subpopulation of the 656 men using ergospirometry.

Dr Ladenvall said: "VO2 max is a measure of aerobic capacity and the higher the figure, the more physically fit a person is.

•••••

After the initial examination in 1967, the men were followed up until 2012, at the age of 100 years. Several physical examinations were performed, about one every 10 years. Data on all-cause death was obtained from the National Cause of Death Registry.

To analyse the association between predicted VO2 max and mortality the men were divided into three groups (tertiles) ranging from low to high: 2.00 l/min, 2.26 l/min, and 2.56 l/min.

The researchers found that each tertile increase in predicted VO2 max was associated with a 21% lower risk of death over 45 years of follow up, and after adjusting for other risk factors (smoking, blood pressure and serum cholesterol).

•••••