Cited by 329Cardiovascular and exercise physiologyPhysical Activity and HealthOccupational Health and Performance

Role of Lifestyle and Aging on the Longitudinal Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness

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Jackson, Andrew S., Sui, Xuemei, Hébert, James R., Church, Timothy S., Blair, Steven N.·2009·Archives of Internal Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adults decreases with age and is influenced by lifestyle. Low CRF is associated with risk of diseases and the ability of older persons to function independently. We defined the longitudinal rate of CRF decline with aging and the association of aging and lifestyle with CRF. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 3429 women and 16 889 men, aged 20 to 96 years, from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study who completed 2 to 33 health examinations from 1974 to 2006. The lifestyle variables were body mass index, self-reported aerobic exercise, and smoking behavior. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a maximal Balke treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: Linear mixed models regression analysis stratified by sex showed that the decline in CRF with age was not linear. After 45 years of age, CRF declined at an accelerated rate. For each unit of increase in body mass index, the CRF of women declined 0.20 metabolic equivalents (METs) (95% confidence interval, -0.21 to -0.19); that of men, 0.32 METs (-0.33 to -0.20). Current smokers of both sexes also had lower CRF (-0.29 METs [95% confidence interval, -0.40 to -0.19] for women and -0.41 METS [-0.44 to -0.38] for men). Cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with self-reported physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiorespiratory fitness in men and women declines at a nonlinear rate that accelerates after 45 years of age. Maintaining a low BMI, being physically active, and not smoking are associated with higher CRF across the adult life span.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.312

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  • Based on longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, an age dependent decline in peak oxygen uptake of at least 3.5 mL/kg/min over the five year period was expected.

    “Based on longitudinal35 36 and cross sectional studies,37 we expected an age dependent decline in peak oxygen uptake of at least 3.5 mL/kg/min over the five year period.”

    From Effect of exercise training for five years on all cause mortality in older adults—the Generation 100 study: randomised controlled trial (2020) · cites this paper as [36]

    The Results and Comment sections report an age-dependent decline in cardiorespiratory fitness that accelerates after age 45. They do not establish a decline of at least 3.5 mL/kg/min over five years; the Comment instead quotes another study's mean annual changes of 0.19 for women and 0.43 mL/kg/min for men. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Jackson, A. S., Sui, X., Hébert, J. R., Church, T. S., & Blair, S. N.
Affiliations
  • University of Houston (US)
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US)
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Published
2009-10-26
Volume
169
Issue
19
Pages
1781-7
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2145173489
Cited by
329
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 20
FWCI
33.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Scholar Commons (University of South Carolina) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R37AG006945, AG06945, R01AG006945)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL62508, R01HL062508)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
Keywords
cardiorespiratory fitness, aging, lifestyle factors, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, aerobic exercise, sex differences, Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, treadmill exercise testing
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Life Style, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Fitness, Sex Factors, Smoking, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Linear Models

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