New research published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings has shown that patients who can complete a workout on a treadmill during a cardiac stress test have much lower mortality risk than those who cannot complete the exercise. These results show the importance of regular exercise in maintaining health and preventing mortality.
The study included data from over 15,500 participants. The participants were given a cardiac test that measures blood flow to the heart both at rest and during stress to determine areas that may have blockages. Patients could exercise on a treadmill for the stress portion of the test, or they could be given a drug to induce artery dilation if they could not complete the treadmill workout. This study separated the groups that could and could not complete the treadmill workout. After the test, participants were followed-up with for an average of almost seven years and monitored for mortality. The goal of the study was to see how the ability to complete a treadmill workout during the cardiac test might affect mortality risk going forward.
The results showed that patients who were able to complete the treadmill exercise during their cardiac tests had a markedly lower annual mortality risk compared to those who could not complete the exercise. This, along with age, was the greatest predictor of mortality during the follow-up period.
The authors noted that this study does not prove causality, but the large effect size suggests that physical fitness plays a very important role in health and longevity. The study also provides important information for physicians; if their patients cannot complete exercise on a treadmill during cardiac testing, those patients may be at higher risk of mortality. Even relatively small amounts of exercise throughout the day have been shown to improve heart health, and physicians should also encourage their patients to be as active as possible to prevent heart disease.
Sources: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Science Daily
