Introduction
Engaging in >150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity
physical activity weekly is recommended for optimal health. The relationship between
walking, the most common activity especially for older adults, and total mortality
is not well documented.
Methods
Data from a large U.S. prospective cohort study including 62,178 men (mean age 70.7
years) and 77,077 women (mean age 68.9 years), among whom 24,688 men and 18,933 women
died during 13 years of follow-up (1999–2012), were used to compute multivariable-adjusted
hazard rate ratios and 95% CIs for walking as the sole form of activity or adjusted
for other moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity in relation to total and
cause-specific mortality (data analysis 2015–2016).
Results
Inactivity compared with walking only at less than recommended levels was associated
with higher all-cause mortality (hazard rate ratio=1.26, 95% CI=1.21, 1.31). Meeting
one to two times the recommendations through walking only was associated with lower
all-cause mortality (hazard rate ratio=0.80, 95% CI=0.78, 0.83). Associations with
walking adjusted for other moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity were
similar to walking only. Walking was most strongly associated with respiratory disease
mortality followed by cardiovascular disease mortality and then cancer mortality.
Conclusions
In older adults, walking below minimum recommended levels is associated with lower
all-cause mortality compared with inactivity. Walking at or above physical activity
recommendations is associated with even greater decreased risk. Walking is simple,
free, and does not require any training, and thus is an ideal activity for most Americans,
especially as they age.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 19, 2017
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© 2017 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
