Even Occasionally Running Helps to Lower Mortality Risk

Running more, regardless of how much more, could help to reduce risk of mortality, according to the results of a recent study.

In order to examine how the dose of running affects risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 14 studies involving a total of 232,149 participants. During 5.5 to 35 years of follow-up, 25,951 deaths occurred. 

Overall, the researchers found that participation in running was associated with a 27%, 30%, and 23% reduction in risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality, respectively, compared with no running. In a meta-regression analysis, no significant dose-response trends for frequency, duration, pace, and total volume were observed.

“Any amount of running, even just once a week, is better than no running, while higher doses of running may not necessarily be associated with greater mortality benefits. Increased rates of participation in running, regardless of its dose, would probably lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Pedisic Z, Shrestha N, Kovalchik S, et al. Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis [published online November 4, 2019]. Br J Sports Med. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100493.