Physical activity and mortality/CVD in relation to income

Title
Physical activity and mortality/CVD in relation to income

Research Area
Health

Author
Lear, S A et al; The Lancet

Summary of Findings
Participants were selected from 17 different countries (not UK) with those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease being excluded. International Physical Activity Questionnaires were completed by participants to measure activity levels and to collect demographic data. Follow up contact was made over a 7-year period to establish rates of mortality and cardiovascular disease. The researchers deemed those who did not met the recommended 150 mins a week of physical activity as having low physical activity, those achieving 150-750 as having moderate physical activity and those achieving more than 750 as having high physical activity. The study found that those with moderate or high physical activity had a lower risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease compared with those having low physical activity. This was true across countries in high, middle and low income countries. Benefits were associated with both recreational and non-recreational physical activity.

Implications
This research suggest that physical exercise has an effect across all income levels. The Black Country is an area with some of the highest levels of income deprivation in the country and the priority areas identified by ABC contain some of the most severe examples of lack of disposable income. Whilst the benefits of activity are the same across income groups, access to activity is certainly not. ABC are working diligently in our priority areas to test and identify how to build activity into people's daily routines.