May 16, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology416 citations
View Full PaperDose of Jogging and Long-Term Mortality
Key Result
Light jogging was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality compared with sedentary nonjoggers (HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.10-0.47), whereas strenuous jogging showed no statistical difference.
Key Points
- This study aims to explore the relationship between jogging frequency, pace, and quantity on long-term mortality rates.
- Prospective follow-up of 1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 nonjoggers since 2001.
- Cox proportional hazards regression analysis used with age as the time scale.
- Evaluated jogging frequency (1-3 times/week) and pace (slow, average, strenuous) against mortality outcomes.
- 1 to 2.4 hours of jogging per week correlated with a lower HR of 0.29 (95% CI: 0.11 to 0.80) for mortality.
- Jogging 2-3 times per week had an HR of 0.32 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.69) compared to nonjoggers.
- Light joggers had the lowest mortality HR of 0.22 (95% CI: 0.10 to 0.47), while strenuous joggers had an HR of 1.97 (95% CI: 0.48 to 8.14).
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=5,048)
Multicenter
No
Structured PICO
Does jogging reduce long-term all-cause mortality in healthy individuals compared to sedentary nonjoggers?
P
Population
n=5,048 healthy individuals (1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 healthy nonjoggers) from the Copenhagen City Heart Study
I
Intervention
Jogging (evaluated by pace, quantity, and frequency; categorized as light, moderate, or strenuous)
C
Comparator
Sedentary nonjoggers
O
Outcome
Long-term all-cause mortalityhard clinical
Light and moderate jogging is associated with lower all-cause mortality compared to a sedentary lifestyle, but strenuous jogging does not confer the same survival benefit, suggesting a U-shaped relationship.
Main Result
Effect estimate: HR 0.22 (95% CI 0.10-0.47)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People who are physically active have at least a 30% lower risk of death during follow-up compared with those who are inactive. However, the ideal dose of exercise for improving longevity is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between jogging and long-term, all-cause mortality by focusing specifically on the effects of pace, quantity, and frequency of jogging. METHODS: As part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, 1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 healthy nonjoggers have been prospectively followed up since 2001. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed with age as the underlying time scale and delayed entry. RESULTS: Compared with sedentary nonjoggers, 1 to 2.4 h of jogging per week was associated with the lowest mortality (multivariable hazard ratio HR: 0.29; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.11 to 0.80). The optimal frequency of jogging was 2 to 3 times per week (HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.69) or ≤1 time per week (HR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.72). The optimal pace was slow (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.24 to 1.10) or average (HR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.66). The joggers were divided into light, moderate, and strenuous joggers. The lowest HR for mortality was found in light joggers (HR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.47), followed by moderate joggers (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.38) and strenuous joggers (HR: 1.97; 95% CI: 0.48 to 8.14). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a U-shaped association between all-cause mortality and dose of jogging as calibrated by pace, quantity, and frequency of jogging. Light and moderate joggers have lower mortality than sedentary nonjoggers, whereas strenuous joggers have a mortality rate not statistically different from that of the sedentary group.