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Physical activity linked to reduced CHD risk
Sattelmair J. Circulation. 2011;doi:10.1161/circulationaha.110.010710.
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Those who met minimum criteria for physical activity according to US guidelines were at a reduced risk for coronary heart disease of nearly 15%, recent data found.
Researchers from several sites in the United States performed an aggregate data meta-analysis of epidemiological studies to determine a dose-response rate for how amounts of physical activity affect CHD risk. The analysis included 33 prospective cohort studies — nine of which allowed quantitative estimates of leisure-time physical activity — published in English since 1995.
The researchers used 2008 US federal guidelines for physical activity, the minimum amount of which was the equivalent of 150 minutes per week. According to this scale, 300 minutes per week were required for additional benefits.
Those who engaged in the equivalent of 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity leisure-time physical activity had a CHD risk that was 14% lower than those who reported doing no leisure-time activity (RR=0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.96).
Moderate-intensity leisure-time physical activity of 300 minutes per week was linked to a 20% lower risk (RR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.74-0.88).
Higher levels of activity were linked to modestly lower risk. Those who were physically active but who failed to meet the minimum US guidelines also had significantly lower CHD risk. A significant association was also gender-dependent: The association was stronger among women than men (P=.03).
“These findings provide quantitative data supporting US physical activity guidelines that stipulate that ‘some physical activity is better than none’ and ‘additional benefits occur with more physical activity,’” the researchers wrote.
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