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Exercise adherence and 10-year mortality in chronically ill older adults
Miriam C Morey1, Carl F Pieper, Gail M Crowley
1Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. morey@geri.duke.edu
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|December 11, 2002
Summary
Regular exercise offers long-term survival benefits for older adults, even those with chronic conditions. Adherence to fitness programs significantly reduces mortality risk over time.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Preventive Medicine
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Geriatric fitness programs aim to improve health outcomes in older adults.
- The long-term impact of exercise adherence on mortality in this population requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare all-cause mortality between adherents and nonadherents of a supervised geriatric fitness program.
Main Methods:
- Prospective intervention study involving 135 adults aged 65+ enrolled in the Gerofit program.
- Participants classified as adherent (>=47 sessions in 6 months) or nonadherent.
- All-cause mortality tracked over a 10-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- Initially, no difference in mortality risk between groups.
- Multivariate analyses revealed a significant group-by-time interaction (P=.004).
- Adherent individuals demonstrated a long-term protective effect on mortality (hazard rate=0.75).
Conclusions:
- Participation in exercise programs yields long-term mortality benefits for older adults, including those with chronic diseases.
- Physicians should encourage regular exercise for elderly patients, even those with comorbidities.