title: Leisure-time running reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although running is a popular leisure-time physical activity, little is known about the long-term effects of running on mortality. The dose-response relations between running, as well as the change in running behaviors over time, and mortality remain uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the associations of running with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks in 55,137 adults, 18 to 100 years of age (mean age 44 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Running was assessed on a medical history questionnaire by leisure-time activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a mean follow-up of 15 years, 3,413 all-cause and 1,217 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Approximately 24% of adults participated in running in this population. Compared with nonrunners, runners had 30% and 45% lower adjusted risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, with a 3-year life expectancy benefit. In dose-response analyses, the mortality benefits in runners were similar across quintiles of running time, distance, frequency, amount, and speed, compared with nonrunners. Weekly running even <51 min, <6 miles, 1 to 2 times, <506 metabolic equivalent-minutes, or <6 miles/h was sufficient to reduce risk of mortality, compared with not running. In the analyses of change in running behaviors and mortality, persistent runners had the most significant benefits, with 29% and 50% lower risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, compared with never-runners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Running, even 5 to 10 min/day and at slow speeds <6 miles/h, is associated with markedly reduced risks of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease. This study may motivate healthy but sedentary individuals to begin and continue running for substantial and attainable mortality benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Electronic address: dclee@iastate.edu.
authors.forename: Duck-Chul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School, University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; Department of Preventive Medicine Research, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine Research, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science and Department of Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: all-cause mortality; cardiovascular mortality; dose response; epidemiology; physical exercise; running pattern
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