Moderate to vigorous physical activity and risk of upper-respiratory tract infection.
OBJECTIVE
A "J"-shaped model has been proposed to describe the relationship between physical activity and risk of upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI). However, little epidemiologic evidence is available to support the contention that moderately active individuals are at lowest risk of URTI. This investigation examined differences in URTI risk between physically inactive and moderately active adults.


METHODS
Observational study of 547 healthy adults (49% women) aged 20-70 yr reported URTI events at 90-d intervals over 12-month of follow-up (5 evaluations). Three 24-h physical activity recalls per evaluation were obtained and averaged to quantify total moderate-vigorous activity (> or =3.0 metabolic equivalents [MET]). Associations between URTI and physical activity levels were estimated using incidence rate ratios (IRR) derived using Poisson regression while adjusting for a number of potential confounders including age, education, anxiety, cynicism, and selected dietary factors.


RESULTS
Men and women reported 1.2 (1.4) and 1.2 (1.2) URTI events per year, respectively (mean [(SD]). Adjusting for gender and potential confounders, the IRR for less than 3.93, 3.94-7.15, 7.16-11.95, and > or = 11.96 MET-h.d(-1) among men, and less than 2.38, 2.39-4.09, 4.10-6.24, and > or = 6.25 MET-h.d(-1) among women, were 1.00 (referent), 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-1.07), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.71-1.09), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62-0.95), respectively (P(trend) = 0.03). This effect was stronger in men (P(trend) = 0.03) than women (P(trend) = 0.17), although at similar expenditure levels (6-7 MET-h.d-1), risk was reduced by about 20% in men and women. Risk reduction was most pronounced in the fall of the year (P(trend) = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the hypothesis that moderate levels of physical activity are associated with a reduced risk for URTI.
Matthews
Charles E
CE
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. cematthe@sph.sc.edu
Ockene
Ira S
IS
Freedson
Patty S
PS
Rosal
Milagros C
MC
Merriam
Philip A
PA
Hebert
James R
JR
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution