1. Outdoor gardening activity with different frequency and duration may be associated with reduction of total and cause-specific mortality risk for general U.S. adults: Findings from the NHANES.
- Author
-
Liang, Jing-hong, Liu, Mei-ling, Huang, Shao-yi, Huang, Shan, Pu, Ying-qi, Jiang, Nan, Bao, Wen-wen, Zhang, Yu-shan, Gui, Zhao-huan, Hu, Li-xin, Pu, Xue-ya, Li, Jing, and Chen, Ya-jun
- Abstract
Engaging in recommended levels of physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced overall and cause-specific mortality rates. Our study aims to examine the relationship between gardening-specific PA and all-cause and cause-specific mortality based on representative U.S. adults. A total of 13,812 adults representing 663.5 million non-institutionalized U.S. adults were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-reported gardening activity (GA) was assessed by a validated questionnaire, and outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and mortality specific to certain causes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using survey-multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. During a median follow-up period of 16.8 years (Interquartile range = 14.8–18.7), there were 3,476 deaths. After adjusting for potential covariates, we found that participants exposed to GA were more likely to have a lower risk of total mortality [HR (95% CI): 0.76 (0.68, 0.85), P -value < 0.001], cancer-specific mortality [HR (95% CI): 0.81 (0.67, 0.99), P -value < 0.05], cardiovascular disease mortality [HR (95% CI): 0.65 (0.53, 0.80), P -value < 0.001], and respiratory disease mortality [HR (95% CI): 0.66 (0.45, 0.98), P -value < 0.05], compared to those without GA exposure. Furthermore, engaging in GA more frequently and for longer durations was significantly associated with a lower total mortality risk. Our study provides evidence that engaging in GA is associated with a decreased risk of overall and cause-specific mortality. However, further longitudinal or interventional studies are needed to investigate the potential benefits of GA. • Gardening activity (GA) may reduce overall and cause-specific mortality. • GA with higher frequency and longer duration may contribute to a lower mortality rate. • GA, therefore, is recommended as an effective health intervention for the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF