Diet and Activity: Keys to Cardiovascular Health and Longevity in Older Australians
A groundbreaking study investigates how diet and physical activity collectively influence cardiovascular health and mortality among older Australians. Over ten years, 85,545 participants aged 45 to 74 without prior cardiovascular conditions were observed to assess the effects of diet quality and exercise on their health outcomes. The research concludes that higher-quality diets and increased physical activity significantly reduce risks of cardiovascular events and death, suggesting that lifestyle modifications are crucial for aging populations.
The analysis distinguished between different levels of diet quality and physical activity, showing that the combination of high diet quality and vigorous physical activity yields the most substantial health benefits. While vigorous activities add further protective benefits against cardiovascular hospitalizations and overall mortality, even moderate levels of physical activity combined with a good diet can substantially lower health risks.
The findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive lifestyle approaches over isolated interventions. By adopting both a nutritious diet and regular physical activity, older individuals can significantly enhance their cardiovascular health and longevity, providing a model for preventive health strategies in aging societies.
Article Information
The association of diet quality and physical activity with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 85,545 older Australians: A longitudinal study
Published in Journal of Sport and Health Science. Ding Ding et al..
Abstract
Background: A quality diet and an active lifestyle are both important cornerstones of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. However, despite their interlinked effects on metabolic health, the 2 behaviors are rarely considered jointly, particularly within the context of CVD prevention. We examined the independent, interactive, and joint associations of diet and physical activity with CVD hospitalization, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Methods: CVD-free Australian participants aged 45-74 years (n = 85,545) reported physical activity, diet, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics at baseline (2006-2009) and follow-up (2012-2015), and data were linked to hospitalization and death registries (03/31/2019 for CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality and 12/08/2017 for CVD mortality). Diet quality was categorized as low, medium, and high based on meeting dietary recommendations. Physical activity was operationalized as (a) total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as per guidelines, and (b) the composition of MVPA as the ratio of vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) to total MVPA. We used a left-truncated cause-specific Cox proportional hazards model using time-varying covariates.
Results: During a median of 10.7 years of follow-up, 6576 participants were admitted to the hospital for CVD and 6581 died from all causes (876 from CVD during 9.3 years). A high-quality diet was associated with a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality than a low-quality diet, and the highest MVPA category (compared with the lowest) was associated with a 44% and 48% lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality, respectively. Multiplicative interactions between diet and physical activity were non-significant. For all outcomes, the lowest risk combinations involved a high-quality diet and the highest MVPA categories. Accounting for total MVPA, some VPA was associated with further risk reduction of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.
Conclusion: For CVD prevention and longevity, one should adhere to both a healthy diet and an active lifestyle and incorporate some VPA when possible.
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