Daily step counts as low as 2,517 steps/d significantly reduced all-cause mortality (aHR 0.92; 95% CI 0.84-0.999) compared to 2,000 steps/d, with optimal risk reduction at 8,763 steps/d (aHR 0.40).
Meta-Analysis (n=111,309)
Do higher daily step counts reduce all-cause mortality and incident cardiovascular disease in the general population?
As few as ~2,600-2,800 steps per day yield significant mortality and CVD benefits, with progressive risk reductions up to ~8,800 and ~7,200 steps per day, respectively.
Effect estimate: aHR 0.92 (95% CI 0.84-0.999)
BACKGROUND: The minimal and optimal daily step counts for health improvements remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: A meta-analysis was performed to quantify dose-response associations of objectively measured step count metrics in the general population. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from inception to October 2022. Primary outcomes included all-cause mortality and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). Study results were analyzed using generalized least squares and random-effects models. RESULTS: In total, 111,309 individuals from 12 studies were included. Significant risk reductions were observed at 2,517 steps/d for all-cause mortality (adjusted HR aHR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84-0.999) and 2,735 steps/d for incident CVD (aHR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79-0.999) compared with 2,000 steps/d (reference). Additional steps resulted in nonlinear risk reductions of all-cause mortality and incident CVD with an optimal dose at 8,763 (aHR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.38-0.43) and 7,126 steps/d (aHR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.45-0.55), respectively. Increments from a low to an intermediate or a high cadence were independently associated with risk reductions of all-cause mortality. Sex did not influence the dose-response associations, but after stratification for assessment device and wear location, pronounced risk reductions were observed for hip-worn accelerometers compared with pedometers and wrist-worn accelerometers. CONCLUSIONS: As few as about 2,600 and about 2,800 steps/d yield significant mortality and CVD benefits, with progressive risk reductions up to about 8,800 and about 7,200 steps/d, respectively. Additional mortality benefits were found at a moderate to high vs a low step cadence. These findings can extend contemporary physical activity prescriptions given the easy-to-understand concept of step count. (Dose-Response Relationship Between Daily Step Count and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses; CRD42021244747).
Stens et al. (2023) conducted a meta-analysis in General population (n=111,309). Daily step counts vs. 2,000 steps/d was evaluated on All-cause mortality (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84-0.999). Daily step counts as low as 2,517 steps/d significantly reduced all-cause mortality (aHR 0.92; 95% CI 0.84-0.999) compared to 2,000 steps/d, with optimal risk reduction at 8,763 steps/d (aHR 0.40).