physical activity not only associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseaseRather, there is no threshold for this association, with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease seen for those who are more active, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Terence Dwyer of Oxford University in the UK and colleagues his.
Research has shown that there is a inverse association between self-reported physical activity and the onset of cardiovascular disease. However, there is uncertainty about the range of this association, especially at higher levels of physical activity.
In the new study, researchers used data from 90,211 participants in the UK Biobank, without previous cardiovascular disease, who agreed use an accelerometer to measure your physical activity for a period of 7 days between 2013 and 2015.
Participants in the lower category of physical activity smoked more, had a higher body mass index and C-reactive proteins and were diagnosed more frequently with hypertension. Overall, 3,617 cases of cardiovascular disease were diagnosed in participants over an average of 5.2 years of follow-up.
People in each increasing quartile of physical activity, for moderate-intensity activity, intense high activity, and total physical activity, had less likely to have cardiovascular disease.
For example, compared to those in the lowest quartile, those in the second quartile of moderate-intensity exercise had a 71% chance of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, those in the third quartile were of 59% and the largest quartile had a probability of 46%.
Associate Professor Aiden Doherty, of the Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, and one of the study’s lead authors, notes that “this is the largest study ever conducted on physical activity and cardiovascular disease refined measurements with devices. It shows that physical activity is probably even more important in preventing cardiovascular disease than we previously thought. “
Our findings add weight to the new WHO physical activity guidelines, which recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults, he says.
Professor Terry Dwyer, of the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health and lead author of the study, adds that “the results of this study improve confidence that physical activity is important way to prevent disease cardiovascular. The estimated potential risk reduction for those engaged in relatively high levels of activity is substantial and justifies a greater focus on measures to increase levels of physical activity in the community. “
For her part, Dr Rema Ramakrishnan of the Nuffield Department of Reproductive and Women’s Health, Oxford University and the first author of this study, emphasized: “We are confident in the findings of the study because valid that can capture the frequency, intensity and duration of physical activity instead of self-reported by participants. “