Key result
Highest physical activity dose linked to ~59% lower pneumonia mortality versus lowest dose.
Why the study?
Deaths from COVID-19 are concentrated in older adults, and physical activity has been reported to reduce the risk of death from pneumonia.
Does physical activity reduce the risk of death from pneumonia in middle-aged and older adults?
Meta-Analysis
Does physical activity reduce the risk of death from pneumonia in middle-aged and older adults?
Relative Risk: 0.41 (95% CI 0.23–0.58)
Moderate physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia-related death in middle-aged and older adults, demonstrating a non-linear dose-response relationship where excessive activity may increase risk.
Supports advising higher physical activity to lower pneumonia mortality risk; extends dose-response evidence in middle-aged and older adults.
BACKGROUND: Deaths from COVID-19 are concentrated in older adults, and studies have reported that physical activity (PA) can reduce the risk of death from pneumonia. METHODS: Eight cohort studies and 2 case-control studies were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria established in this meta-analysis study followed the PRISMA guideline, 8 cohort studies and 2 case-control studies were finally included. Then, the research objects in these studies were classified to further study the dose-response relationship and non-dose-response relationship. RESULTS: The highest dose of PA reduced the risk of death by 59% (risk ratio = 0.41; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.58) compared with the lowest dose of PA in middle-aged and elderly people. Furthermore, when the PA level was <10 m/wk, the risk of death from pneumonia was reduced by 6% every 4.5 MET-h/wk increase. At a PA level > 10 m/wk, the risk of death from pneumonia increased by 5% every 4.5 MET-h/wk increase. At a PA level > 30 m/wk, PA is a risk factor for pneumonia-related death in middle-aged and elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that PA was associated with a reduced risk of dying from pneumonia in middle-aged and older adults, and that there was a significant nonlinear negative dose-response relationship between PA levels and the risk of dying from pneumonia. Therefore, moderate exercise was recommended.
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Lu et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in pneumonia. Physical activity vs. Lowest dose of physical activity was evaluated on death from pneumonia (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.58). The highest dose of physical activity reduced the risk of death from pneumonia by 59% compared with the lowest dose in middle-aged and older adults (RR 0.41; 95% CI 0.23-0.58).
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