High step count in older adults linked to reduced cardiovascular risk

Insight

• The risk of cardiovascular disease events decreases in the older adult population as the number of steps walked daily increases.
• 6,000–9,000 steps per day are associated with up to 50 % less risk than 2,000  Steps.

Why this matters

• Many adults don’t get the amount of exercise recommended by health authorities.
• This study suggests that even a moderate increase in the number of steps could bring considerable benefits.

Study design

• Metaanalysis of 8  Studies to determine step counts and cardiovascular events in adults (n = 20,152)
• Result: Cardiovascular events (fatal and nonfatal coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure)
• Funding: CDC

Key results

• Average age: 63.2  Years
• Average follow-up: 6.2  Years
• Median number of steps per day:
  • Age ≥ 60  Years: 4,323 (interquartile range [ IQR]: 2,760–6,924)
  • Age <60  Years: 6,911 (IQR: 4,783–9,794)
• Cardiovascular risks (HR) in participants aged ≥ 60  years vs.Lowest quartile of number of steps:
  • Quartile 2: 0.80 (95 % CI: 0.69–0.93)
  • Quartile 3: 0.62 (95 %-CI: 0.52–0.74)
  • Quartile 4: 0.51 (95 %-CI: 0.41–0.63)
• For participants under 60  years, the risks in quartile _-2–4 were not significantly lower than in the lowest quartile:
  • Quartile 2: 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.46–1.35)
  • Quartile 3: 0.90 (95 % CI: 0.64–1.25)
  • Quartile 4: 0.95 (95 % CI: 0.61–1.48)
• No correlations were observed between the walking pace and the results.

• Age ≥ 60  Years: 4,323 (interquartile range [ IQR]: 2,760–6,924)
• Age <60  Years: 6,911 (IQR: 4,783–9,794)

• Quartile 2: 0.80 (95 % CI: 0.69–0.93)
• Quartile 3: 0.62 (95 %-CI: 0.52–0.74)
• Quartile 4: 0.51 (95 %-CI: 0.41–0.63)

• Quartile 2: 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.46–1.35)
• Quartile 3: 0.90 (95 % CI: 0.64–1.25)
• Quartile 4: 0.95 (95 % CI: 0.61–1.48)

Restrictions

• No causal relationship has been established.
• Possible residual confounding factors
• No analysis of individual patient data
• Most participants were non-Hispanic whites, which limits generalizability.
• The follow-up may not have been long enough to document associations in younger people.

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