title: Even a low-dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces mortality by 22% in adults aged ≥60 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health benefits of 150 min a week of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in older adults, as currently recommended, are well established, but the suggested dose in older adults is often not reached.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine whether a lower dose of MVPA was effective in reducing mortality, in participants older than 60 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed and Embase databases were searched from inception to February 2015. Only prospective cohorts were included. Risk ratios of death were established into four doses based on weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes, defined as inactive (reference), low (1-499), medium (500-999) or high (≥1000). Data were pooled and analysed through a random effects model using comprehensive meta-analysis software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 835 reports screened, nine cohort studies remained, totalling 122 417 participants, with a mean follow-up of 9.8±2.7 years and 18 122 reported deaths (14.8%). A low dose of MVPA resulted in a 22% reduction in mortality risk (RR=0.78 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.87) p<0.0001). MVPA beyond this threshold brought further benefits, reaching a 28% reduction in all-cause mortality in older adults who followed the current recommendations (RR=0.72 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.80) p<0.0001) and a 35% reduction beyond 1000 MET-min per week (RR=0.65 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.70) p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dose of MVPA below current recommendations reduced mortality by 22% in older adults. A further increase in physical activity dose improved these benefits in a linear fashion. Older adults should be encouraged to include even low doses of MVPA in their daily lives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, PRES Lyon, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France EA SNA EPIS 4607, Autonomic Nervous System, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France EA LPE 4338, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9032-9031
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hupin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, PRES Lyon, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France EA SNA EPIS 4607, Autonomic Nervous System, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Departments, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France Faculty of Sport Sciences, INSERM-U1093, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France CIC INSERM 1432, Technological Platform, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gremeaux
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, PRES Lyon, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France EA LPE 4338, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chatard
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hygee Centre, Regional Centre for Cancer Prevention, Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France CIC 1408 INSERM, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oriol
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Primary Care and Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaspoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, PRES Lyon, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France EA SNA EPIS 4607, Autonomic Nervous System, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barthélémy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, PRES Lyon, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France EA LPE 4338, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edouard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Elderly people; Health promotion; Meta-analysis; Physical activity; Public health