[Risk reduction in cardiovascular diseases by physical activity]

A sedentary lifestyle or physical inactivity is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Regular physical activity improves muscular function, cardiac function, and metabolic syndrome-related disorders. Leisure time physical activity reduces all-cause mortality by 22-34% and cardiovascular mortality by 27-35%. These data have been shown in many prospective cohort studies and published in four large meta-analyses with more than 800,000 participants (evidence IA). The risk reduction is somewhat more pronounced in the elderly and in women (IB). In addition to reduced mortality, physical activity also improves cardiopulmonary function and quality of life (IB). This also holds true for coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, and arterial hypertension with high-grade evidence (IA). Furthermore, evidence has been shown a risk reduction in stroke, development of cognitive dysfunction, and intermittent claudication. Training recommendations for physical activity have reached high-grade evidence (IA). Therefore, regular physical activity is one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle. All physicians should ask their patients at all clinic and office visits about physical activity and recommend activity for prevention and therapy.