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Exercise and Survival in the Very Old
Robert D. Langer1, Melville R. Klauber, Michael H. Criqui
1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
The American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Regular exercise significantly boosts survival rates in older adults aged 75 and above. This finding holds true for both men and women, regardless of health status or existing heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Traditional cardiovascular risk factors show reduced predictive power in the elderly, particularly after age 75.
- The relationship between physical activity and survival in very old individuals is not well-established.
- Existing data on exercise and longevity primarily focus on middle-aged populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between regular exercise and survival in community-dwelling men and women aged 75 years and older.
- To determine if exercise remains a significant predictor of longevity in advanced age.
- To examine the impact of exercise on survival, independent of health status and cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 440 men and 457 women aged 75+.
- Follow-up period averaged 5 years.
- Analysis using age-adjusted proportional hazards models, with subsequent adjustments for health status, baseline heart disease, changes in exercise habits, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- Current regular exercise (≥3 times/week) was strongly associated with increased survival in both men (RR 0.54, P<0.01) and women (RR 0.45, P<0.01).
- This association persisted after adjusting for physical and emotional health.
- The benefits of exercise on survival remained significant even when excluding individuals with pre-existing heart disease and after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Regular physical activity is a powerful predictor of survival in individuals aged 75 and older.
- Exercise confers survival benefits in the very old, independent of common health issues and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Promoting regular exercise may be a crucial strategy for enhancing longevity in the elderly population.