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Updated: May 25, 2026
05:59
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Ageing, physical activity and mortality--a 42-year follow-up study
Anne K Gulsvik1, Dag S Thelle, Sven O Samuelsen
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway. a.k.gulsvik@medisin.uio.no
International Journal of Epidemiology
|January 19, 2012
Summary
Regular physical activity significantly reduces mortality risk from all causes, heart disease, and stroke across all adult age groups. This health behavior is a crucial factor for longevity, especially in older populations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) is known to be inversely associated with mortality in the general population.
- This study aimed to quantify the association between self-reported PA and mortality from all causes, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke.
- The association was compared with other known risk factors across different age segments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the association of self-reported physical activity with all-cause, IHD, and stroke mortality.
- To compare the impact of physical activity with other risk factors (smoking, cholesterol, hypertension) across age groups.
- To provide evidence supporting physical activity promotion in an aging population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Bergen Clinical Blood Pressure Survey (6811 Norwegian men and women, 1965-2005/07).
- Employed Cox proportional hazard regression to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and population attributable fractions (PAF).
- Conducted analyses across age segments (22-44, 45-64, >65) with adjustments for confounding factors and subgroup analyses.
Main Results:
- High physical activity was associated with reduced mortality: HR 0.63 (all causes), 0.66 (IHD), 0.66 (stroke).
- Population attributable fraction (PAF) for no/low activity was consistent across age groups (7.3%-9.1%).
- PAF for smoking and high cholesterol decreased with age, while PAF for hypertension increased.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity is a significant health-promoting factor across all adult age groups.
- The relative importance of traditional risk factors varies by age.
- Physical activity should be encouraged, particularly for the aging population, to mitigate mortality risks.
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