Summarize the Article - Essay Example

Biology of aging Article 6 Citation Franco OH, Laet C, et al. 2005.Effect of physical activity on life expectancy with cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Medicine 165:2355-2360.HypothesisThe authors hypothesized that since physical inactivity had an established link with cardiovascular diseases it could also have an effect on life expectancy with or without CVD.Description of StudyThe authors used the available data from the original Framingham Heart study and constructed life tables from which they calculated the link between different kinds of physical activity and total life expectancy in people at 50years with or without a history of CVD.

The authors, in order to estimate the transition rate by physical activity level pooled 3 non-overlapping follow-up periods of 12 years where each period started with a measurement of physical activity. Assessment of physical activity was done basically through questionnaire and calculations where participants were asked to provide an estimation of time they spend each day doing various physical activities. It was ensured that each participant could be clinically observed during the 3 periods until onset of CVD or death.

For final analysis participants for whom all data of physical activity was present and who had data on the selected confounders (smoking, marital status, comorbidity and cholesterol level) were used for final study.Results/ConclusionThe authors calculated the life expectancy and the physical activity and found that people with low physical activity tended to be older (mean age 62) and had more comorbidities than those with slightly higher physical activity. The authors also noticed that low and moderate activity groups had higher female proportion than the high activity group.

The authors also found life expectancy increased with increased levels of physical activity. They found that the life expectancy of a sedentary person at 50 years was 1.5times shorter than those who engaged in some moderate physical activity at the same age. Also, people with high physical activity did not suffer from CVD and hence had higher life expectancy. Significance/implicationsSince physical activity has a protective effect on health and increases life expectancy even with associated comorbidities it is important to understand their significance and contribution in life especially after 50 years during which most people tend to give up work and adopt a sedentary life style.

Older people who engage in physical activity tend to live longer because their system remains relatively free from diseases such CVD, risks and associated stress hence physical activity can somehow control aging for a minimum period of time thereby elonging life span by a few years.