Association of physical activity at work with mortality in Israeli industrial employees: The CORDIS study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of physical act ivity at work with the risk of all-cause cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality. The cohort consisted of 3488 male, Israeli, industrial employees who participated in an 8-year follow-up study. During this period 129 deat hs were recorded: 54 from cardiovascular disease, 47 from cancer, and 28 fr om other causes. Physical activity at work was assessed at entry on a 4-poi nt scale (none, light, medium, and high). Potential confounding demographic , anthropometric, and socioeconomic variables, and health habits including leisure time physical activity were accounted for. We found that the hazard ratio of all-cause mortality in workers with a high physical workload was 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 2.81) compared with workers having a low workload. A similar trend was noted for cardiovascular disease and can cer mortality. We concluded that a high physical workload is associated wit h increased mortality rates. Future studies should differentiate between le isure time and work time physical activity.