Total Physical Activity, Exercise Intensity, and Walking Speed as Predictors of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Over 7 Years in Older Men: The Concord Health and Aging in Men Project.

Plain-language summary

This study looked at how different types of physical activity and walking speed affect the risk of death in older men. It tracked over 1,700 men aged 70 and older for 7 years, measuring their activity levels (using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly questionnaire) and walking speed, and linked these to death records. The study found that higher activity levels and faster walking speeds were tied to lower risks of death from all causes, heart disease, and other causes, but not cancer. Strenuous sports were especially protective, cutting the risk of death from any cause by more than half compared to no sports.

Key findings

• Higher physical activity levels were linked to a 22% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 34% lower risk of cardiovascular death, and a 25% lower risk of other causes of death.
• Strenuous sports participation was tied to a 56% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 69% lower risk of cancer death compared to no sports.
• Faster walking speed was associated with a 31% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 40% lower risk of cardiovascular death.