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Mortality benefits of population-wide adherence to national physical activity guidelines: a prospective cohort study.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Long, Gráinne 
Watkinson, Clare 
Brage, Søren 
Morris, Jerry 
Tuxworth, Bill 

Abstract

We quantified the mortality benefits and attributable fractions associated with engaging in physical activity across a range of levels, including those recommended by national guidelines. Data were from the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey, a population-based prospective cohort comprising 1,796 male and 2,122 female participants aged 16-96 years, randomly selected from 30 English constituencies in 1990. Participants were tagged for mortality at the Office for National Statistics. Cox multivariable regression quantified the association between self-reported achievement of activity guidelines--150 min of at least moderate activity per week, equivalent here to 30 or more 20-min episodes of at least moderate activity per month--and mortality adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, social class, geographical area, anxiety/depression and interview season. There were 1,175 deaths over a median (IQR) of 22.9 (3.9) years follow-up; a mortality rate of 15.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.4-16.1 per 1,000 person years. Compared with being inactive (no 20-min bouts per month), meeting activity guidelines (30+ bouts) was associated with a 25% lower mortality rate, adjusting for measured confounders. If everyone adhered to recommended-, or even low-activity levels, a substantial proportion of premature mortality might be avoided (PAF, 95% CI 20.6, 6.9-32.3 and 8.9, 4.2-13.4%, respectively). Among a representative English population, adherence to activity guidelines was associated with significantly reduced mortality. Efforts to increase population-wide activity levels could produce large public health benefits and should remain a focus of health promotion efforts.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Exercise, Female, Guideline Adherence, Guidelines as Topic, Humans, Leisure Activities, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Premature, Motor Activity, Physical Fitness, Population Surveillance, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Self Report, Social Class, United States

Journal Title

Eur J Epidemiol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0393-2990
1573-7284

Volume Title

30

Publisher

Kluwer Academic Publishers
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/3)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179471)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179474)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179473)
The Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey was funded by the Department of Health, Health Education Authority, The Sports Council and Allied Dunbar Assurance plc. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/1, MC_UU_12015/3 and MC_UU_12015/4). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the National Institute for Health Research, or the UK Department of Health.