Future hospital care in a population-based series of twin pairs discordant for physical activity behavior

This study investigated the association between physical activity behavior and morbidity, taking into account genetic selection.

Hospitalizations were followed from the beginning of 1977 to the end of 1986 in 710 same-sex healthy twin pairs discordant for leisure-time physical activity and in 151 pairs discordant for all physical activity at base-line in 1975.

During the follow-up, among twin pairs discordant for leisure activity, the active member spent, on average, 43% fewer days in the hospital than the inactive member; the corresponding percentage was 55% among pairs discordant for all activity.

Physically inactive behavior is associated with increased need for hospital treatments, even after genetic and other confounding factors are taken into account.