Smoking, Physical Activity, and Active Life Expectancy

Abstract

The effect of smoking and physical activity on active and disabled life expectancy was estimated using data from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE). Population-based samples of persons aged > or = 65 years from the East Boston, Massachusetts, New Haven, Connecticut, and Iowa sites of the EPESE were assessed at baseline between 1981 and 1983 and followed for mortality and disability over six annual follow-ups. A total of 8,604 persons without disability at baseline were classified as "ever" or "never" smokers and doing "low," "moderate," or "high" level physical activity. Active and disabled life expectancies were estimated using a Markov chain model. Compared with smokers, men and women nonsmokers survived 1.6-3.9 and 1.6-3.6 years longer, respectively, depending on level of physical activity. When smokers were disabled and close to death, most nonsmokers were still nondisabled. Physical activity, from low to moderate to high, was significantly associated with more years of life expectancy in both smokers (9.5, 10.5, 12.9 years in men and 11.1, 12.6, 15.3 years in women at age 65) and nonsmokers (11.0, 14.4, 16.2 years in men and 12.7, 16.2, 18.4 years in women at age 65). Higher physical activity was associated with fewer years of disability prior to death. These findings provide strong and explicit evidence that refraining from smoking and doing regular physical activity predict a long and healthy life.

Smoking and Risk of Premature Death among Middle‐aged Japanese: Ten‐year Follow‐up of the Japan Public Health Center‐based Prospective Study on Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases (JPHC Study) Cohort I

“…13,[18][19][20][21][22] In the US, RRs of smoking for death were slightly altered by adjustment for other exposures in a recent study. 21) In Japan, Hirayama et al conducted a sixprefecture cohort study , and established the risk of smoking, 8) although they calculated RRs while adjusting only for age.…”

“…8) Because smokers are considered to have an unhealthy lifestyle, [15][16][17] smoking-related mortality has been considered to be affected by factors other than smoking itself, such as diet, alcohol, physical activity, and educational level. 13,[18][19][20][21][22] In the US, RRs of smoking for death were slightly altered by adjustment for other exposures in a recent study. 21) In Japan, Hirayama et al conducted a sixprefecture cohort study , and established the risk of smoking, 8) although they calculated RRs while adjusting only for age.…”

Effects of Transitory Stimulation Interval Exercise on Physical Function: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study among Japanese Subjects

“…There is also a dose-response relationship between the amount of exercise volume and the risk of obesity or coronary heart disease [2,3,6,[8][9][10][24][25][26]. It is thought that conventional interval training increases energy expenditure compared to continuous moderate exercise, due to the higher intensity exercise intervals.…”

“…It is clear that additional physical activity and increased physical fitness provide various health related benefits [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Since busy workers often have little leisure time, raising the intensity of exercise is one suggested method for increasing energy expenditure.…”

Optimal health and function among the elderly: lessening severity of ADL disability

“…The elderly are not generally anemic, and red blood cell content is usually well maintained [28]. Some studies have shown a correlation between VO 2 max and muscle mass [17,61]. Mitochondrial density has been found to be lower in their skeletal muscle of older individuals, which could further diminish capacity for endurance work.…”