Effects of walking on coronary heart disease in elderly men - The HonoluluHeart Program

Background-Effects of walking on the risk of coronary heart disease morbidi ty and mortality have not been identified in the elderly. The purpose of th is study was to determine whether walking is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease in a sample of elderly men. Methods and Results-For this study, distance walked (mile/d) was examined a t a baseline examination that occurred from 1991 to 1993 in the Honolulu He art Program. Incident coronary heart disease from all causes was observed o ver a 2-to 4-year follow-up period, Subjects followed up were 2678 physical ly capable elderly men aged 71 to 93 years. During the course of follow-up, 109 men developed coronary heart disease. Men who walked <0.25 mile/d had a 2-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease versus those who walked > 1.5 mile/d (5.1% versus 2.5%; P < 0.01). Men who walked 0.25 to 1.5 mile/d were also at a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease than men who walked longer distances (4.5% versus 2.5%; P < 0.05). Adjustment for a ge and other risk factors failed to alter these findings. Conclusions-Findings from the Honolulu Heart Program, which targeted physic ally capable elderly men, suggest that the risk of coronary heart disease i s reduced with increases in distance walked, Combined with evidence that su ggests that an active lifestyle reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in younger and more diverse groups, this suggests that important health ben efits could be derived by encouraging the elderly to walk.