Key result
Aerobic PA and cardiorespiratory fitness are linked to reduced mortality and CVD risk in older adults.
Why the study?
Non-communicable diseases account for 80% of the healthcare burden in older adults, and while aerobic physical activity provides multiple health benefits, it is not yet a fully realised aspect of geriatric care.
Does aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness improve mortality and non-communicable disease outcomes in adults aged ≥ 65 years?
Systematic Review
Does aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness improve mortality and non-communicable disease outcomes in adults aged ≥ 65 years?
Aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are beneficially associated with reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, dysglycaemia, and frailty in older adults, though evidence for other metabolic outcomes remains inconsistent.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports integrating aerobic PA into geriatric care; extends evidence linking CRF to lower mortality and NCD risk in adults ≥65.
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for an estimated 80% of the healthcare burden among older adults globally. Aerobic physical activity (PA) contributes to functional mobility, increased bone and muscle strength, prevention of illness and quality of life; however, PA is not yet a fully realised aspect of geriatric care. OBJECTIVE: To review recent evidence for the impact of aerobic PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on mortality and NCD outcomes in adults aged ≥ 65 years. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic search of the Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Web of Science databases, published between 2016 and February 2024. RESULTS: The 94 included studies (reported in 104 individual manuscripts) included 46 cross-sectional, 24 longitudinal, 7 cross-sectional/longitudinal, 1 intervention/cross-sectional, and 16 interventions studies. PA and CRF were consistently associated with reduced all-cause mortality in longitudinal studies. Most included studies reported inverse associations between measures of PA and cardiovascular disease (CVD, n = 14 of 16 studies) risk and measures of dysglycaemia (n = 12 of 16 studies). Obesity/adiposity, blood pressure, lipids, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were not consistently associated with aerobic PA. While aerobic PA interventions generally improved depression outcomes, longitudinal studies showed inconclusive results. Observational evidence suggests an association between PA and frailty, but less consistently with falls. CONCLUSION: This review suggests a beneficial association between aerobic PA and all-cause mortality, CVD, dysglycaemia, and frailty, with inconsistent evidence for associations with obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, MetS, depression, and falls. Given the inconsistent findings for key metabolic outcomes, future research is needed to address outstanding and understudied questions around risk reversibility and time to benefit for PA interventions, as well as identifying target groups who benefit more from PA and tailoring interventions to these groups. Further longitudinal studies are also needed to determine the optimal frequency, duration, and intensity of aerobic PA for mitigating NCD risk in older adults.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Madden et al. (2026) conducted a systematic review in Non-communicable diseases and mortality. Aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness vs. Lower physical activity or lower cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated on All-cause mortality and non-communicable disease outcomes. Aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness were consistently associated with reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease risk, dysglycaemia, and frailty in older adults.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: