Cited by 1,980Physical Activity and HealthCardiovascular Health and Risk FactorsCardiovascular Effects of Exercise

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN INDEX OF HEART ATTACK RISK IN COLLEGE ALUMNI1

PAFFENBARGER, RALPH S., WING, ALVIN L., HYDE, ROBERT T.·1978·American Journal of Epidemiology

Abstract

Risk of first heart attack was found to be related inversely to energy expenditure reported by 16,936 Harvard male alumni, aged 35-74 years, of whom 572 experienced heart attacks in 117,680 person-years of followup. Stairs climbed, blocks walked, strenuous sports played, and a composite physical activity index all opposed risk. Men with index below 2000 kilocalories per week were at 64% higher risk than classmates with higher index. Adult exercise was independent of other influences on heart attack risk, and peak exertion as strenuous sports play enhanced the effect of total energy expenditure. Notably, alumni physical activity supplanted student athleticism assessed in college 16-50 years earlier. If it is postulated that varsity athlete status implies selective cardiovascular fitness, such selection alone is insufficient to explain lower heart attack risk in later adult years. Ex-varsity athletes retained lower risk only if they maintained a high physical activity index as alumni.

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Crossref · 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112608

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Authors
PAFFENBARGER, R. S., WING, A. L., & HYDE, R. T.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
PAFFENBARGER, RALPH S.
Venue
American Journal of Epidemiology
Published
1978-09
Volume
108
Issue
3
Pages
161-175
ISSN
  • 0002-9262 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-6256
OpenAlex
W2147078612
Cited by
1,980
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 54
FWCI
17.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
Keywords
physical activity, myocardial infarction risk, myocardial infarction, energy expenditure, university alumni, varsity athletes, cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular disease prevention
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Connecticut, Coronary Disease, Physical Exertion, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Physical Fitness, Retrospective Studies, Risk, Smoking, Sports

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