Dr Roberto Elosua leads a study that relates physical activity to the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Doing 150 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity (brisk walking or dancing, for example) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running or other sports) a week, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), reduces the risk of mortality by 16%. At the same time, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular accidents by 27%. This is highlighted by a study published by the Spanish Journal of Cardiology, led by Roberto Elosua, Professor of Epidemiology and lecturer at the UVic-UCC Faculty of Medicine, with researchers from the Hospital del Mar Institute for Medical Research (IMIM) and the CIBERCV (Biomedical Research Networking Center on Cardiovascular Diseases), of which Elosua is also a member, and the CIBERESP (Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health), in addition to doctors at the Hospital del Mar.

The study also shows that performing physical activity between three and five times higher than the recommended levels maximises its benefit. No additional benefit above this threshold was observed. The primary objective of this study was to answer the question "what is the minimum and maximum amount of physical activity required to optimise cardiovascular health benefits?"

Follow-up of more than 11,000 people

The study monitored 11,158 people for more than 7 years, who were all included in the REGICOR (Girona Heart Registry) study. The data on the physical activity of the participants, who were between 25 and 79 years old, were collected using validated questionnaires, which specified 64 types of activities. Cardiovascular accidents and mortality (863 people died during the study) were identified with these contacts and by cross-referencing the data analysis program for health research and innovation (PADRIS) of the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia.

Dr Helmut Schröder, one of the authors of the study and a researcher at the IMIM and the CIBER for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), pointed out that "the results of the study show that physical activity of moderate-vigorous intensity is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality." Dr Jaume Marrugat, who is also an author of the study and a researcher at IMIM and CIBERCV, emphasised that the most interesting results are "that the benefits are apparent with just small amounts of physical activity. Following the current WHO recommendations is associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease of 12% and death of 16%." At the same time, "the maximum benefit is observed when these recommendations are multiplied by four, and no additional benefits are observed as a result of increasing physical activity above that level." No differences related to age or gender were observed.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle

Lack of physical exercise is estimated to be responsible for 6% of cases cardiovascular disease, 7% of diabetes and 9% of premature mortality. Furthermore, one in four European adults does not follow the WHO's recommendations on physical exercise, and this figure rises to 35% in Spain.

In response, Dr Elosua stressed "the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates physical exercise for the prevention of cardiovascular disease." According to the authors, physical exercise is not only an individual decision, but also requires a commitment by public bodies and institutions (municipal councils and other government bodies) to facilitate public access to areas where these activities can easily be performed, in both urban and rural areas." This project was financed with grants from the Government of Catalonia, the Carlos III Institute of Health and with ERDF funds.