Any running beats no running for mortality risk reduction

Takeaway

• Running even once a week is tied to reduced mortality risks, according to findings from this meta-analysis and systemic review of data covering more than 230,000 people.
• Pushing to higher “doses,” however, may not push benefits higher.

Why this matters

• Clinicians might want to consider suggesting a “dose” of running to patients who are able to do so and for whom the activity would be safe.

Key results

• Any running was associated with reduced risk (pooled adjusted HRs [95% CIs]) for:
  • All-cause mortality: 0.73 (0.68-0.79; P<.001; limited heterogeneity: I²=8.54%).
  • Cardiovascular mortality: 0.70 (0.49-0.98; P=.040; I²=63.44%).
  • Cancer death: 0.77 (0.68-0.87; P<.001; I²<0.001%).
• Regression found no dose responses for pace, frequency, duration, or total volume.

Study design

• 14 publications were included.
• Funding: None disclosed.

Limitations

• Not all adjusted variables were the same across the studies.
• Confounding is possible.
• High heterogeneity for cardiovascular mortality studies.