Daily exercise may reduce risk of heart disease in older adults

March 2, 2022 – Increased levels of physical activity and an active lifestyle appear to be linked to a lower risk of heart disease later in life, according to a new study.

Researchers examined how different physical activity patterns are linked to heart disease in older women and men and found that increased physical activity was associated with lower rates of heart disease and death.

The greatest risk reduction was seen in those who exercised for more than 20 minutes each day and was most pronounced at age 70.

“Physical activity is likely to be beneficial at any age, but to summarize our findings, we could say that when it comes to being physically active, the earlier the better,” says lead researcher Claudio Barbiellini Amidei, MD, of the University of Padua. in Italy.

the paper has been published in the magazine Heart February 14th.

The researchers looked at data from 3,099 Italians aged 65 or older. They evaluated them from 1995 to 1997 and made follow-up visits at 4 and 7 years. The study team used surveys, hospital records or clinical assessments to identify cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, stroke and coronary heart disease.

The results showed that physical activity was linked to reduced rates of new heart disease. Men had a significantly lower risk, which was highest around age 70-75.

“Physical activity, even just 20 minutes, is very useful even at older ages. People need to continue physical activity at older ages and if they are sedentary, it’s not too late. to begin even at age 65 to 75,” says Carl “Chip” Lavie, MD, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the University of Queensland Medical School in New Orleans, who did not participate in the study.