Key result
Weightlifting linked to ~9% lower all-cause mortality, independent of aerobic activity.
Why the study?
Both aerobic moderate to vigorous physical activity and muscle-strengthening exercise are recommended, but evidence on the mortality benefits of weightlifting specifically is limited.
Does weightlifting, independently and jointly with aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, reduce all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality in older adults?
Cohort (n=99,713)
Yes
Does weightlifting, independently and jointly with aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, reduce all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality in older adults?
In older adults, weightlifting is independently associated with a 9% reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and combining weightlifting with recommended aerobic activity confers an additive 41% lower mortality risk.
Supports incorporating weightlifting into older adult activity guidance; leaves open confirmation of causality by randomized trials.
OBJECTIVES: Both aerobic moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) are recommended, but the mortality benefits of weightlifting, a specific type of MSE, are limited. METHODS: In the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, we used Cox proportional hazards regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for the associations between weightlifting and mortality, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle and behavioural risk factors. The sample included 99 713 adults who completed the follow-up questionnaire that assessed weightlifting who were subsequently followed up through 2016 to determine mortality (median 9, IQR 7.6-10.6 years). Weightlifting was associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.91 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.94)) and CVD mortality (0.91 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.97)) after adjusting for MVPA. Joint models revealed that adults who met aerobic MVPA recommendations but did not weightlift had a 32% lower all-cause mortality risk (HR=0.68 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.70)), while those who also reported weightlifting 1-2 times/week had a 41% lower risk (HR=0.59 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.64)), both compared with adults reporting no aerobic MVPA or weightlifting. Without adjustment for MVPA, weightlifting was associated with lower cancer mortality (HR=0.85 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.91)). CONCLUSION: Weightlifting and MVPA were associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, but not cancer mortality. Adults who met recommended amounts of both types of exercise appeared to gain additional benefit.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gorzelitz et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in General older adult population in a cancer screening cohort (n=99,713). Weightlifting and moderate-to-vigorous aerobic physical activity (MVPA) vs. No weightlifting in the past 30 days (and/or no aerobic MVPA in joint models) was evaluated on All-cause mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88-0.94, p=<0.01 for trend). Weightlifting was independently associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88-0.94) and CVD mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.97) after adjusting for aerobic MVPA.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: