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. 1999 Dec;89(12):1869–1872. doi: 10.2105/ajph.89.12.1869

Future hospital care in a population-based series of twin pairs discordant for physical activity behavior.

U M Kujala 1, J Kaprio 1, S Sarna 1, M Koskenvuo 1
PMCID: PMC1509006  PMID: 10589321

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between physical activity behavior and morbidity, taking into account genetic selection. METHODS: Hospitalizations were followed from the beginning of 1977 to the end of 1986 in 710 same-sex healthy twin pairs discordant for leisure-time physical activity and in 151 pairs discordant for all physical activity at base-line in 1975. RESULTS: During the follow-up, among twin pairs discordant for leisure activity, the active member spent, on average, 43% fewer days in the hospital than the inactive member; the corresponding percentage was 55% among pairs discordant for all activity. CONCLUSIONS: Physically inactive behavior is associated with increased need for hospital treatments, even after genetic and other confounding factors are taken into account.

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Selected References

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