(Circulation. 2000;102:981.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
Physical Activity and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Men
Does the Duration of Exercise Episodes Predict Risk?
From the Department of Epidemiology (I.-M.L., H.D.S., R.S.P.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass; Division of Preventive Medicine (I.-M.L., H.D.S.), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; and Division of Epidemiology (R.S.P.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.
Correspondence to I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Ave E, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail i-min.lee{at}channing.harvard.edu
Background—Physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether the duration of exercise episodes is important: Are accumulated shorter sessions as predictive of decreased risk as longer sessions if the same amount of energy is expended?
Methods and Results—In the Harvard Alumni Health Study, we prospectively followed 7307 Harvard University alumni (mean age 66.1 years) from 1988 through 1993. At baseline, men reported their walking, stair climbing, and participation in sports or recreational activities. For each of the latter activities, they also reported the frequency and average duration per episode. During follow-up, 482 men developed CHD. In age-adjusted analysis, a longer duration of exercise episodes predicted lower CHD risk (P trend=0.04). However, after total energy expended on physical activity and potential confounders was accounted for, duration no longer had an independent effect on CHD risk (P trend=0.25); that is, longer sessions of exercise did not have a different effect on risk compared with shorter sessions, as long as the total energy expended was similar. In contrast, higher levels of total energy expenditure significantly predicted decreased CHD risk in both age-adjusted (P trend=0.009) and multivariate (P trend=0.046) analyses.
Conclusions—These data clearly indicate that physical activity is associated with decreased CHD risk. Furthermore, they lend some support to recent recommendations that allow for the accumulation of shorter sessions of physical activity, as opposed to requiring 1 longer, continuous session of exercise. This may provide some impetus for those sedentary to become more active.
Key Words: coronary disease • exercise • men
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  S. S. Bassuk and J. E. Manson Lifestyle and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in Women: A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, June 1, 2008; 2(3): 191 - 213. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Pitsavos, S. A. Kavouras, D. B. Panagiotakos, S. Arapi, C. A. Anastasiou, S. Zombolos, P. Stravopodis, Y. Mantas, Y. Kogias, A. Antonoulas, et al. Physical Activity Status and Acute Coronary Syndromes Survival: The GREECS (Greek Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes) Study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 27, 2008; 51(21): 2034 - 2039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. M Pluim, J B. Staal, B. L Marks, S. Miller, and D. Miley Health benefits of tennis Br. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2007; 41(11): 760 - 768. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. L. Lujan, S. L. Britton, L. G. Koch, and S. E. DiCarlo Reduced susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmias in rats selectively bred for high aerobic capacity Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2006; 291(6): H2933 - H2941. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. L. Sullivan, F. H. Koegler, and J. L. Cameron Individual differences in physical activity are closely associated with changes in body weight in adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2006; 291(3): R633 - R642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. E. Crouter, K. G. Clowers, and D. R. Bassett Jr. A novel method for using accelerometer data to predict energy expenditure J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2006; 100(4): 1324 - 1331. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K I Proper, S G van den Heuvel, E M De Vroome, V H Hildebrandt, and A J Van der Beek Dose-response relation between physical activity and sick leave Br. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2006; 40(2): 173 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Miyashita, S. F Burns, and D. J Stensel Exercise and postprandial lipemia: effect of continuous compared with intermittent activity patterns Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2006; 83(1): 24 - 29. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Sundquist, S.-E. Johansson, J. Qvist, and J. Sundquist Does occupational social class predict coronary heart disease after retirement? A 12-year follow-up study in Sweden Scand J Public Health, December 1, 2005; 33(6): 447 - 454. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O. H. Franco, C. de Laet, A. Peeters, J. Jonker, J. Mackenbach, and W. Nusselder Effects of Physical Activity on Life Expectancy With Cardiovascular Disease Arch Intern Med, November 14, 2005; 165(20): 2355 - 2360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. M.F. van Sluijs, M. N.M. van Poppel, J. W.R. Twisk, M. J. Chin A Paw, K. J. Calfas, and W. van Mechelen Effect of a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention Delivered in General Practice Settings: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Am J Public Health, October 1, 2005; 95(10): 1825 - 1831. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. M. F. Van Sluijs, M. N. M. Van Poppel, J. W. R. Twisk, J. Brug, and W. Van Mechelen The positive effect on determinants of physical activity of a tailored, general practice-based physical activity intervention Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2005; 20(3): 345 - 356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. L. Collins, A. M. Loka, and S. E. DiCarlo Daily exercise-induced cardioprotection is associated with changes in calcium regulatory proteins in hypertensive rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, February 1, 2005; 288(2): H532 - H540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J Green, A. Maiorana, G. O'Driscoll, and R. Taylor Effect of exercise training on endothelium-derived nitric oxide function in humans J. Physiol., November 15, 2004; 561(1): 1 - 25. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I-M. Lee, H. D. Sesso, Y. Oguma, and R. S. Paffenbarger Jr. The "Weekend Warrior" and Risk of Mortality Am. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2004; 160(7): 636 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. N Blair, M. J LaMonte, and M. Z Nichaman The evolution of physical activity recommendations: how much is enough? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2004; 79(5): 913S - 920S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K I Proper, A J van der Beek, V H Hildebrandt, J W R Twisk, and W van Mechelen Worksite health promotion using individual counselling and the effectiveness on sick leave; results of a randomised controlled trial Occup. Environ. Med., March 1, 2004; 61(3): 275 - 279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K I Proper, A J van der Beek, V H Hildebrandt, J W R Twisk, and W van Mechelen Short term effect of feedback on fitness and health measurements on self reported appraisal of the stage of change Br. J. Sports Med., December 1, 2003; 37(6): 529 - 534. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M Karpansalo, T A Lakka, P Manninen, J Kauhanen, R Rauramaa, and J T Salonen Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of disability pension: a prospective population based study in Finnish men Occup. Environ. Med., October 1, 2003; 60(10): 765 - 769. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R J Shephard and A Vuillemin Limits to the measurement of habitual physical activity by questionnaires * Commentary Br. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2003; 37(3): 197 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Press, I. Freestone, and C.F. George Physical activity: the evidence of benefit in the prevention of coronary heart disease QJM, April 1, 2003; 96(4): 245 - 251. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I-M. Lee, H. D. Sesso, Y. Oguma, and R. S. Paffenbarger Jr Relative Intensity of Physical Activity and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Circulation, March 4, 2003; 107(8): 1110 - 1116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D A Lawlor, M Taylor, C Bedford, and S Ebrahim Is housework good for health? Levels of physical activity and factors associated with activity in elderly women. Results from the British Women's Heart and Health Study J. Epidemiol. Community Health, June 1, 2002; 56(6): 473 - 478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. GLICK Screening for traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease: A review for oral health care providers J Am Dent Assoc, March 1, 2002; 133(3): 291 - 300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. P. Gavin and P. D. Wagner Acute ethanol increases angiogenic growth factor gene expression in rat skeletal muscle J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2002; 92(3): 1176 - 1182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. E. Billman Aerobic exercise conditioning: a nonpharmacological antiarrhythmic intervention J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2002; 92(2): 446 - 454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|