Even Modest Physical Activity Benefits
4-4 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MORTALITY IN POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
The majority of studies investigating the association of physical activity with mortality has been conducted in men. This, the "Iowa Womens Health Study", evaluated the association of physical activity in postmenopausal women.
Conclusion: There was a graded, inverse association between physical activity and all-cause mortality in postmenopausal women.

STUDY

1. Prospective cohort study entered over 40 000 postmenopausal women age 55-69 at baseline.
2. Excluded women who reported having cancer or heart disease and those who died in the first 3 years of follow-up.
3. A physical activity profile, based on frequency and intensity, stratified women into low, medium, and high indices.
4. Follow-up—7 years.

RESULTS

1. After adjustment for potential confounders, women who reported regular physical activity were at significantly reduced risk of death compared with women who did not report regular activity. (Relative risk = 0.8).
2. Increasing frequency of moderate physical activity was associated with reduced risk of death— from RR of 1.0 (referent) in those who rarely engaged in activity, to 0.6 who engaged in activity at least 4 times a week. Women who engaged only in moderate activity (not vigorous) also benefited. Moderate activity as infrequently as once a week demonstrated a RR of 0.8.
3. A similar strong graded, monotonic pattern was seen for vigorous activity— from a RR of 1.0 in those who rarely engaged in vigorous activity to 0.6 in those engaging 4 times a week.
4. The beneficial effect was as evident in elderly post menopausal women (over age 65) as in younger (under age 60).
5. The associations were most striking for cardiovascular diseases and respiratory illness.

DISCUSSION

1. There was a consistent, graded, inverse association between frequency of leisure physical activity and total mortality.
2. This study adds to the evidence that regular physical activity is associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality, in particular mortality from cardiovascular diseases.
3. Population recommendations to maintain physically active lifestyles can apply not just to younger women, but also to older women.
4. Even infrequent moderate activity—as little as once a week—was associated with decreased risk of death, compared with a sedentary lifestyle.

CONCLUSION
"These results demonstrate a graded, inverse association between physical activity and all cause mortality in post menopausal women."
JAMA April 23/30 1997; 277: 1287-92 Original investigation from Univ. Of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis

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