Even a Low Level of Physical Activity Helps Cut Mortality Risk in Metabolic Syndrome

Dorthe Stensvold, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and colleagues investigated whether physical activity reduces mortality in 13,449 individuals with metabolic syndrome.

The participants were followed up for 10 years to assess cause-specific mortality and were divided into two groups according to age (younger than 65 years and older than 65 years). Data on physical activity were collected at baseline. 

The investigators found that, for individuals younger than 65 years, metabolic syndrome was correlated with increased mortality from all causes (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35) and from cardiovascular causes (HR, 1.78), whereas no correlation was found among older participants. For both younger and older individuals with metabolic syndrome who reported a high level of physical activity at baseline, there was a reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared to those reporting no physical activity (HR, 0.52 and 0.59, respectively).

"We found that even a low level of physical activity was associated with a substantial mortality reduction compared to those who reported that they were physically inactive," the authors write.

BMC Medicine Sept 29, 2011