Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-cause and cardiovascular-disease mortality: a cohort study of 80 306 British adults

Abstract

Background/Aim Evidence for the long-term health effects of specific sport disciplines is scarce. Therefore, we examined the associations of six different types of sport/exercise with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in a large pooled Scottish and English population-based cohort. Methods Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate the associations between each exposure and all-cause and CVD mortality with adjustment for potential confounders in 80 306 individuals (54% women; mean±SD age: 52±14 years). Results Significant reductions in all-cause mortality were observed for participation in cycling (HR=0.85, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.95), swimming (HR=0.72, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.80), racquet sports (HR=0.53, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.69) and aerobics (HR=0.73, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.85). No significant associations were found for participation in football and running. A significant reduction in CVD mortality was observed for participation in swimming (HR=0.59, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.75), racquet sports (HR=0.44, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.83) and aerobics (HR=0.64, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.92), but there were no significant associations for cycling, running and football. Variable dose-response patterns between the exposure and the outcomes were found across the sport disciplines. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that participation in specific sports may have significant benefits for public health. Future research should aim to further strengthen the sport-specific epidemiological evidence base and understanding of how to promote greater sports participation. BACKGROUND

Anthropometric characteristics of young Italian tennis players

“…Due to the characteristics of the game, several evidences show that tennis has specific physiological adaptation to exercise like osteogenic potential (Calbet et al, 1998;Kannus et al, 1995;Kontulainer et al 2002). A recent study conducted on over 80000 Scottish and English subjects had highlight that racquet sports are associated to benefits for public health like a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease associated mortality risk (Oja et al, 2016). Since it is an asymmetric sport, previous studies focused on analysis of the adaptations in tennis players and some of them reported differences between the dominant and the non-dominant side of the body of professional tennis players who had begun tennis practice before puberty (Calbet et al, 1998; Olmedillas et al, 2010; Sanchis-Moysi et al, 2010).…”

A tennis-based health program for middle-aged men who are at risk for heart disease

“…Thus, tennis sport modality can be suggested as an attractive alternative to health orientated sports programs [9,10,12]. In agreement, a recent published cohort performed in a Scottish and English population showed a robust inverse association between participation in racquet sports and and mortality, with a substantial reductions in all-cause and CVD mortality [13]. Although, there is little evidence of the molecular benefits of these programs for subjects at risk for heart diseases.…”

The associations between participation in certain sports and lower mortality are not explained by affluence and other socioeconomic factors

“…We have now repeated all our main analyses using a method identical to that described in the full paper1 with additional adjustments for income and occupational social class. Occupational social class was determined using the Registrar General’s classification and was grouped as I (professional), II (managerial/technical), III (skilled) non-manual, III (skilled) manual, IV (semiskilled manual) and V (unskilled manual).…”

“…Our recent paper1 examined the type-specific associations between sports and all cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Among the wide media attention,2 CNN reported our finding as ‘Swimming, aerobics, racquet sports slash risk of death’3 and those three sports that showed the largest reductions in mortality risk (as indicated by the HR value) 4.…”

“…In our study,1 we adjusted for educational attainment only, although occupation is generally considered a better indicator of current socioeconomic circumstances especially from mid-life onwards 8…”