The effects of physical activity on mortality in the Jerusalem 70-year-olds longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between physical activity and mortality in older men and women. DESIGN: A community-based cohort study: the Jerusa lem 70-Year-Olds Longitudinal Study. PARTICIPANTS: A systematically selected and representative sample of all re sidents of the western part of Jerusalem born in 1920-1921: 456 subjects, 2 5% of the total population. MEASUREMENTS: An extensive social and medical profile was developed by exte nsive interview and physical and ancillary examination. Medical diagnoses w ere established and subjects reported their level of regular physical activ ity. RESULTS: Unadjusted mortality at 6-year follow-up was significantly greater for subjects reporting no regular exercise than for those walking as littl e as 4 hours weekly (23.4% vs 9.9%, odds ratio (OR) = 2.77; 95% confidence interval ICI), 1.64-4.69. The significance of these benefits was demonstrat ed for males as well as for females (30.28% vs 12.14%, P <.001, 16.19% vs 6 .86%, P =.036, respectively). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated the survival advantage to be independent of gender, smoking, subjective econom ic hardship, or preexisting medical conditions (hypertension; diabetes; cor onary artery, cerebrovascular, renal, and respiratory diseases; anemia; and malignancy). Increased regularity of activity correlated with declining mo rtality. The odds ratios for mortality compared to the sedentary group were 0.73 (CI, 0.33-1.62) for those doing sports activity at least twice weekly , 0.41 (CI, 0.19-0.91) for those walking at least 4 hours weekly, 0.14 (CI, 0.04-0.50) for those exercising daily, and 0.40 (CI, 0.22-0.72) for all le vels of physical activity combined. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that regular physical activity confers i ncreased survival in the aged. It is proposed that older people be encourag ed to engage in regular, moderate physical activity.