Intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity and coronary risk factors

Relationships between coronary risk factors and intensity, duration, and frequency of leisure activity were studied in 5943 men and 6039 women, ages 25-69. Age, smoking, socioeconomics, season, body mass index (BMI), urbanization, occupational activity, and liquid, alcohol, and saturated/total fat intake were adjusted using multivariate regressions. Among men each 100 kcal.kg-1.wk-1 spent on vigorous activities (7.5-9.0 MET) was associated with: significant (P < 0.01) average differences of -0.36 mmol.L-1 total cholesterol, +0.17 mmol.L-1 HDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), +0.05 HDL/total cholesterol (P < 0.001), -0.33 mmol.L-1 triglycerides, -3 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure, -10 beats.min-1 heart rate (P < 0.001), +30 L.min-1 peak flow, and -1.1 kg.m-2 BMI. Among women it was associated with: -7 mm Hg systolic blood pressure, -6 beats.min-1 heart rate (P < 0.001), +50 L.min-1 peak flow (P < 0.001), and -1.4 kg.m-2 BMI (P < 0.05). Moderate activity (either 3.0-4.5 MET or 5.0-7.0 MET) was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with HDL cholesterol, BMI, and, for men, heart rate; for women, it was associated with HDL/total cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, and peak flow. With duration and intensity constant, increasing frequency by one time per wk was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with -0.014 mmol.L-1 total cholesterol, +0.001 HDL/total cholesterol, -0.36 beats.min-1 heart rate, -0.093 kg.m-2 BMI among men, and +0.009 mmol.L-1 HDL cholesterol, +0.001 HDL/total cholesterol, -0.014 mmol.L-1 triglycerides, -0.31 beats.min-1 heart rate, and -0.098 kg.m-2 BMI among women. Serum lipids and BMI showed stronger associations with frequency than with intensity or duration.