Intensity or volume: the role of physical activity in longevity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Understanding the relationship between physical activity (PA) and mortality risk is crucial for public health guidelines.
• Previous research has explored PA volume and duration, but the specific impact of intensity and fragmentation on mortality requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine associations between physical activity (PA) volume, intensity, duration, and fragmentation with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk.
• To generate centile curves for PA volume and intensity in US adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Employed accelerometry to measure average acceleration (AvAcc) for volume, intensity gradient (IG) for intensity, and total PA for duration.
• Applied weighted Cox proportional hazard models to analyze associations between PA metrics and mortality outcomes.

Main Results:

• Curvilinear inverse dose-response relationships were observed between all-cause mortality risk and both AvAcc and IG.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk showed a significant inverse association with IG, but not AvAcc.
• Intensity (IG) was identified as the primary driver of reduced mortality risk, followed by volume (AvAcc).

Conclusions:

• Physical activity intensity is a more significant factor than quantity in reducing mortality risk and promoting longevity.
• Generated centile curves provide valuable guidance for individuals aiming to achieve optimal PA levels for health benefits.