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Physical activity is not only associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but there is no threshold for this association, with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease seen for the more active, according to a news study published this week in PLOS medicine by Terence Dwyer of the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues.
Research has shown that there is an inverse association between self-reported physical activity and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. However, there is uncertainty as to the extent of this association, especially at higher levels of physical activity. In the new study, researchers used data from 90,211 UK biobank participants with no prior cardiovascular disease who agreed to wear an accelerometer to measure their physical activity over a 7-day period between 2013 and 2015.
Participants in the lowest physical activity category smoked more, had higher body mass index and C-reactive protein, and were most commonly diagnosed with hypertension. Overall, 3,617 cases of cardiovascular disease were diagnosed in participants during an average of 5.2 years of follow-up. People in each increasing quartile of physical activity, for moderate-intensity activity, vigorous-intensity activity, and total physical activity, were less likely to have cardiovascular disease. For example, compared to those in the bottom quartile, those in the second quartile of moderate-intensity exercise were 71% more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (95% CI 0.65-0.77), those of the third quartile were 59%. probable (95% CI 0.54-0.65) and those in the highest quartile were 46% as likely (95% CI 0.41-0.51). Although potential confounding factors were taken into account, the possibility of unknown confounders or reverse causation cannot be completely ruled out in the current study.
Associate Professor Aiden Doherty, of the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford and one of the lead authors of the study, said: “This is the largest study ever to be carried out on exquisite physical activity measured by a device and cardiovascular disease. It shows that physical activity is probably even more important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease than we previously thought. Our results lend additional weight to the new guidelines of the WHO on Physical Activity which recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults. “
Professor Terry Dwyer, University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department for Women’s and Reproductive Health and lead author of the study, said: “The results of this study build confidence that physical activity is likely to be an important means of preventing cardiovascular disease. The potential risk reduction estimated in those who engage in relatively high activity levels is substantial and warrants greater emphasis on measures to increase physical activity levels in the community.
Dr Rema Ramakrishnan, from Oxford University’s Nuffield Department for Women’s and Reproductive Health and the first author of this study said: “We are confident about the results of the study because physical activity was objectively assessed by a more valid tool that can capture the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity rather than self-reported by participants. We were also fortunate to have access to data from the UK Biobank study, a rich source of data that could answer this question. “
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