title: Low physical activity as a predictor for total and cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men and women in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate separately for men and women whether moderate or high leisure time physical activity, occupational physical activity, and commuting activity are associated with a reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality, independent of CVD risk factors and other forms of physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective follow-up of 15,853 men and 16,824 women aged 30-59 years living in eastern and south-western Finland (median follow-up time 20 years). CVD and all-cause mortality were lower (9-21%) in men and women (2-17%) who were moderately or highly physically active during leisure time. Moderate and high levels of occupational physical activity decreased CVD and all-cause mortality by 21-27% in both sexes. Women spending daily 15 min or more in walking or cycling to and from work had a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality before adjustment for occupational and leisure time physical activity. Commuting activity was not associated with CVD or all-cause mortality in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate and high levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are associated with a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality among both sexes. Promoting already moderate levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are essential to prevent premature CVD and all-cause mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, PL 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. noel.barengo@uku.fi
authors.forename: Noël C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Barengo
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Timo A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lakka
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pekkarinen
authors.forename: Aulikki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissinen
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol