According to a recent research led by the researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in the US, better cardiorespiratory fitness results in better longevity, regardless of age, with no limit on the positive effects of aerobic fitness. Cardiorespiratory fitness is the ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems of the body to constantly supply oxygen to skeletal muscles while the body is going through some rigorous physical activity.
The findings of the study is published in the journal JAMA Network Open which reveals that augmented cardiorespiratory fitness is directly connected to the reduced long-term mortality especially in patients aged 70 years and above. The same applies among those with hypertension.
The research examined 1,22,007 participants for the research who were given the task to undergo treadmill exercise for testing and measuring all-cause mortality- all of the deaths occurring in a population that relates to the benefits of exercise and fitness. The research divided the participants into five performance groups – elite, high, above average, below average and low.
The Elite group of participants were categorised as having aerobic fitness by age and gender, and possessed fitness levels similar to those of endurance athletes. Later, when the subgroups were analyzed by age, the survival advantage of elite versus high performance was the most prominent in older patients.
The results of the findings of the research showed that participants above 70, elite performers had a approximately 30 per cent reduced risk of mortality as compared to those of high performers. For those patients having hypertension, the elite performers again demonstrated nearly 30 per cent reduction in all-cause mortality compared to high performers.
Moreover, the risk associated with poor cardiorespiratory fitness was compared to traditional risk factors like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and smoking, the study reports. However, as per the study, individual patients should always consult with their healthcare advisor before starting an exercise programme.
