Skip to main content
Bulletin of the World Health Organization logoLink to Bulletin of the World Health Organization
. 1994;72(1):1–4.

Physical inactivity as a risk factor for coronary heart disease: a WHO and International Society and Federation of Cardiology position statement.

F C Bijnen 1, C J Caspersen 1, W L Mosterd 1
PMCID: PMC2486506  PMID: 8131243

Abstract

Coronary heart disease is responsible for a considerable amount of the morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases in industrialized countries. Many countries have therefore adopted prevention policies designed to reduce the prevalence of three of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease--high serum cholesterol, smoking, and high blood pressure. Physical inactivity is, however, also an important risk factor for developing coronary heart disease. This article presents a position statement by WHO and the International Society and Federation of Cardiology on physical inactivity and coronary heart disease.

Full text

PDF
1

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Blair S. N., Kohl H. W., Gordon N. F., Paffenbarger R. S., Jr How much physical activity is good for health? Annu Rev Public Health. 1992;13:99–126. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.13.050192.000531. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Caspersen C. J., Christenson G. M., Pollard R. A. Status of the 1990 physical fitness and exercise objectives--evidence from NHIS 1985. Public Health Rep. 1986 Nov-Dec;101(6):587–592. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Caspersen C. J. Physical activity epidemiology: concepts, methods, and applications to exercise science. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1989;17:423–473. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chandrashekhar Y., Anand I. S. Exercise as a coronary protective factor. Am Heart J. 1991 Dec;122(6):1723–1739. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(91)90290-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fletcher G. F., Blair S. N., Blumenthal J., Caspersen C., Chaitman B., Epstein S., Falls H., Froelicher E. S., Froelicher V. F., Pina I. L. Statement on exercise. Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans. A statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart association. Circulation. 1992 Jul;86(1):340–344. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.86.1.340. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Harris S. S., Caspersen C. J., DeFriese G. H., Estes E. H., Jr Physical activity counseling for healthy adults as a primary preventive intervention in the clinical setting. Report for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 1989 Jun 23;261(24):3588–3598. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Iverson D. C., Fielding J. E., Crow R. S., Christenson G. M. The promotion of physical activity in the United States population: the status of programs in medical, worksite, community, and school settings. Public Health Rep. 1985 Mar-Apr;100(2):212–224. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Koplan J. P., Powell K. E. Physicians and the Olympics. JAMA. 1984 Jul 27;252(4):529–530. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Oldridge N. B., Guyatt G. H., Fischer M. E., Rimm A. A. Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Combined experience of randomized clinical trials. JAMA. 1988 Aug 19;260(7):945–950. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Paffenbarger R. S., Jr, Hale W. E., Brand R. J., Hyde R. T. Work-energy level, personal characteristics, and fatal heart attack: a birth-cohort effect. Am J Epidemiol. 1977 Mar;105(3):200–213. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112376. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Paffenbarger R. S., Jr, Hyde R. T., Wing A. L., Hsieh C. C. Physical activity, all-cause mortality, and longevity of college alumni. N Engl J Med. 1986 Mar 6;314(10):605–613. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198603063141003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Paffenbarger R. S., Jr, Hyde R. T., Wing A. L., Steinmetz C. H. A natural history of athleticism and cardiovascular health. JAMA. 1984 Jul 27;252(4):491–495. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Paffenbarger R. S., Jr, Wing A. L., Hyde R. T., Jung D. L. Physical activity and incidence of hypertension in college alumni. Am J Epidemiol. 1983 Mar;117(3):245–257. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113537. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Pollock M. L., Gettman L. R., Milesis C. A., Bah M. D., Durstine L., Johnson R. B. Effects of frequency and duration of training on attrition and incidence of injury. Med Sci Sports. 1977 Spring;9(1):31–36. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Powell K. E., Caspersen C. J., Koplan J. P., Ford E. S. Physical activity and chronic diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 May;49(5 Suppl):999–1006. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/49.5.999. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Powell K. E., Thompson P. D., Caspersen C. J., Kendrick J. S. Physical activity and the incidence of coronary heart disease. Annu Rev Public Health. 1987;8:253–287. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.08.050187.001345. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Scragg R., Stewart A., Jackson R., Beaglehole R. Alcohol and exercise in myocardial infarction and sudden coronary death in men and women. Am J Epidemiol. 1987 Jul;126(1):77–85. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114664. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Shaper A. G., Wannamethee G., Weatherall R. Physical activity and ischaemic heart disease in middle-aged British men. Br Heart J. 1991 Nov;66(5):384–394. doi: 10.1136/hrt.66.5.384. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Bulletin of the World Health Organization are provided here courtesy of World Health Organization

RESOURCES