Physical activity of 7.5-15.0 MET-hours/week reduced all-cause mortality by 19-30% and CVD mortality by 25-34% in older adults, with greater reductions at 15.0-22.5 MET-hours/week.
Systematic Review
Does physical activity reduce all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in older adults aged ≥60 years?
Physical activity levels exceeding current international guidelines (15.0 to 22.5 MET-hours/week) provide greater reductions in all-cause and CVD mortality among older adults compared to recommended levels.
Effect estimate: 19%-30% reduction (all-cause) and 25%-34% reduction (CVD) at 7.5-15 MET-h/wk
OBJECTIVES: To examine the dose-response relationship between physical activity (PA) and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, specifically among older adults. DESIGN: Umbrella review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Eligible studies included systematic reviews with meta-analyses that investigated the association of aerobic PA, muscle-strengthening activity, and multicomponent PA, including exercise programs (such as aerobic, muscle strengthening, and balance training), with all-cause and CVD mortality among older adults aged ≥60 years. METHODS: We performed a literature search in PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library for eligible studies published between January 2017 and March 2023 to update an umbrella review initially conducted by the United States 2018 PA Guidelines Advisory Committee. Studies included in the 2018 US PA and 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines were also reviewed. In addition, meta-analyses that reported effect sizes stratified by age and recruiting older adults (aged ≥60 years) were included. RESULTS: Overall, 16 relevant systematic reviews (10 from our review and 6 from the US and WHO guidelines) met the inclusion criteria. All these reviews showed that 7.5 to 15.0 metabolic equivalents (METs)-hours/week (around the recommended PA levels outlined in the US and WHO guidelines) substantially reduced mortality risks among older adults (approximately 19%-30% for all-cause mortality and 25%-34% for CVD mortality). Moreover, 15.0 to 22.5 MET-hours/week, exceeding the guideline-recommended PA levels, resulted in greater reductions in mortality risks by 35% to 37% and 38% to 40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: PA substantially reduced all-cause and CVD mortality risks among older adults. Larger risk reductions may be achieved by engaging in PA levels higher than those recommended by the current international PA guidelines. Our findings suggest that recommending higher PA levels beyond the current guidelines may benefit older adults when developing future international PA guidelines.
Fukushima et al. (Wed,) conducted a systematic review in All-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. Physical activity was evaluated on All-cause and CVD mortality (19%-30% reduction (all-cause) and 25%-34% reduction (CVD) at 7.5-15 MET-h/wk). Physical activity of 7.5-15.0 MET-hours/week reduced all-cause mortality by 19-30% and CVD mortality by 25-34% in older adults, with greater reductions at 15.0-22.5 MET-hours/week.