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Performance

A · High confidence

Measured heart and lung fitness and the risk of death

Subject: Objectively Assessed Cardiorespiratory Fitness and All-Cause Mortality Risk: An Updated Meta-analysis of 37 Cohort Studies Involving 2,258,029 Participants

What this means

People with the highest fitness had about half the risk of dying compared with those with the lowest. Every 1-MET step up (a measure of exercise capacity) was linked to a lower risk.

Laukkanen JA, Isiozor NM, Kunutsor SK · 2022 · Mayo Clinic Proceedings

What does this rating mean?

Multiple consistent meta-analyses or a position stand. Sufficient basis for a fixed choice in the coaching.

Findings

Objectively assessed cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with lower all-cause mortality: the top fitness tertile had 45% lower risk than the bottom tertile, and each 1-MET increase was linked to 11% lower risk. The association was consistent across publication year, age, sex and assessment method.

Who this applies to

Participants in long-term population studies; the link was equally strong in men and women and across ages.

Size of the research

37 studies with over two million participants in total, followed for at least 1 year.

What to keep in mind

These are observational studies. They show a link between fitness and death, but do not prove that better fitness itself is the cause.

Practical conclusion for REZA

Underlines why REZA takes cardiorespiratory fitness as seriously as strength: every step fitter is linked to a measurably lower mortality risk.

View method and source

Methodology

Meta-analysis

Population

37 cohort studies, 2,258,029 participants, 108,613 all-cause mortality events

Intervention

Exposure: objectively assessed cardiorespiratory fitness (exercise testing), top vs bottom tertile and per 1-MET increment

Outcome measures

All-cause mortality

Limitations

Observational design; CRF measured once at baseline; residual confounding by health status and reverse causation possible.

Original source

DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.02.029 · PMID: 35562197

View on PubMed →

This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.