Key result
Physical activity linked to ~32% lower mortality, recovering life expectancy lost to dual-multimorbidity.
Why the study?
Evidence regarding the mortality risk associated with physical activity and multimorbidity is limited.
Does physical activity reduce mortality and recover life expectancy in adults with multimorbidity?
Cohort (n=39,940)
Yes
Does physical activity reduce mortality and recover life expectancy in adults with multimorbidity?
Hazard Ratio: 1.97 (95% CI 1.76–2.2)
Physical activity significantly reduces all-cause mortality and can recover a substantial portion of life expectancy lost due to multimorbidity in US adults.
PA may offset mortality risk amid rising multimorbidity; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective trials before practice change.
Evidence regarding the mortality risk associated with physical activity (PA) and multimorbidity is limited. This study investigates trends in the prevalence of multimorbidity in the population and the mortality risk associated with PA and multimorbidity. The association between PA and overall survival was analyzed in 39,940 subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cohorts. Among the 39,940 participants (weighted average age: 46.84; 50.86% female), the age-standardized prevalence of multimorbidity rose significantly, from 15.87% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.86%–16.87%) in 1999 to 2000 to 19.96% (95% CI = 17.61%–22.32%) in 2017 to 2018. The population’s multimorbidity detection rate was 25.22%. The all-cause mortality risks for multimorbidity were: dual-multimorbidity (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.76–2.20), triple-multimorbidity (HR = 2.69, 95% CI = 2.35–3.08), quadruple-multimorbidity (HR = 3.22, 95% CI = 2.59–3.99). “Diabetes mellitus + cardiovascular disease + respiratory diseases” had the highest mortality risk (HR = 4.37, 95% CI = 2.67–7.16). PA reduced all-cause and cause-specific mortality, with moderate-intensity PA lowering all-cause mortality by 22% compared to low-intensity PA, and high-intensity PA by 6% compared to moderate-intensity PA. Multimorbidity led to a 5.64 years life expectancy loss, while PA could recover up to 2.31 years. PA potentially recouped 2.96 and 2.19 years of life lost due to comorbidity in females and males, respectively. According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2000 to 2017 to 2018, multimorbidity prevalence increased. PA reduces all-cause mortality by 32%. Greater PA intensity correlates with more significant mortality reduction. Multimorbidity cuts life expectancy by 5.64 years, recoverable by PA (2.31 years). Females regain 2.96 years; males, 2.19 years.
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Yu et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Multimorbidity (n=39,940). Physical activity and multimorbidity vs. Lower physical activity / fewer morbidities was evaluated on All-cause mortality (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.76-2.20). Dual-multimorbidity increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.76-2.20), whereas physical activity reduced all-cause mortality by 32% and recovered up to 2.31 years of lost life expectancy.
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