Some health benefits of physical activity. The Framingham Study

Abstract

Examination of activity in the Framingham (Massachusetts, USA) cohort reveals that this is a sedentary population. Overall mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular and ischemic heart disease were inversely related to the level of physical activity for men. The effect of being sedentary on mortality was modest compared to the effects of other risk factors but in mortality due to ischemic heart disease it persisted when these factors were taken into account. For women the effect was negligible. In strokes, occlusive peripheral arterial disease and cardiac failure, an inverse relationship was noted but does not reach statistical significance. There was a statistically significant association with incidence of ischemic heart disease and with incidence of all forms of cardiovascular disease when they were taken together. Little correlation was noted between physical activity level (at the generally low level found) and the level of major risk factors.