Leisure time sports activity and all-cause mortality in West Germany (1984--1998)

Byline: Jens Bucksch (1), Uwe Helmert (2) Keywords: Leisure time sports activity; All-cause mortality; Germany Abstract: Background Current data and available studies suggest that regular physical activity decreases overall mortality. In Germany corresponding findings are scarce. The aim of this data analysis was to clarify this issue for a German sample in men and women. Methods A total of 3,742 males and 3,445 females aged 30--69, who participated in a baseline questionnaire in 1984--1986, were followed-up to the year 1998. Results During the follow-up period, 300 women and 643 men died. The multivariate rate ratios (RR) for accumulated hours of leisure time sports activities (LTSA) per week and with an LTSA-index based on METs per week with the reference of sedentary lifestyle, showed a clearly protective impact in a dose-response relationship (p for trend &lt 0.05). Similar trends were observed in women and men. More than 2 hours of LTSA per week produced a RR of 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54--0.91) in men and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.35--0.94) in women. In the group with the highest LTSA-index, the RR was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.44--0.84) in men and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.25--0.85) in women. Conclusion LTSA is inversely associated with all-cause mortality in females and males. Author Affiliation: (1) Centre for Public Health, University of Bremen, PO Box 330440, 28334, Bremen, Germany (2) Centre of Social Policy Research, University of Bremen Article History: Registration Date: 07/09/2004 Received Date: 19/04/2004 Accepted Date: 31/08/2004 Online Date: 28/10/2004