Natural selection to sports, later physical activity habits, and coronary heart disease
Key result
Former endurance athletes had significantly less coronary heart disease compared with power speed athletes (adjusted OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.73; p=0.004).
Why the study?
Does an aptitude for specific sports at a young age and continuity of physical activity reduce the occurrence of coronary heart disease in males?
Population
1,978 males from Finland, comprising former top level athletes participating at a young age in endurance…
Comparison
Aptitude for endurance, power speed, or other… vs Healthy controls at age 20, and comparison…
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
Up to 1995 (from 1920-1965)
Authors
Discussion
Loading...
Member takes
Implication
Endurance aptitude linked to lower CHD risk; hypothesis-generating for sport-type effects, needs prospective confirmation.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=1,978)
Structured PICO
Does an aptitude for specific sports at a young age and continuity of physical activity reduce the occurrence of coronary heart disease in males?
P
Population
1,978 former top-level male athletes and healthy controls from Finland, followed to assess the long-term occurrence of coronary heart disease.
E
Exposure
Aptitude for endurance, power speed, or other athletic events at a young age, and continuity of vigorous physical activity
C
Comparator
Healthy controls at age 20, and comparison between different sport types (e.g., power speed athletes)
O
Outcome
Occurrence of coronary heart diseasehard clinical
Main Result
Odds Ratio: 0.34 (95% CI 0.17–0.73)
p-value: p=0.004
Aptitude for endurance sports and continued vigorous physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, whereas aptitude for power speed events is not.
Cite This Study
Kujala et al. (2000) conducted a cohort in Coronary heart disease (n=1,978). Endurance sports aptitude and vigorous physical activity vs. Power speed athletes and healthy controls was evaluated on Occurrence of coronary heart disease (adjusted OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.73, p=0.004). Former endurance athletes had significantly less coronary heart disease compared with power speed athletes (adjusted OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.73; p=0.004).