Optimal amount of vigorous-intensity physical activity for lowering incidence of microvascular diseases: A prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
VPA of 34-44 min/week were associated with 23 %-36 % lower risks of overall MVDs, with a less pronounced decline in risk thereafter. These findings may have implications for the future revision of physical activity recommendations to better improve microvascular health.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants with wrist-worn accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA); 40,256 males and 52,019 females, mean (SD) age 61.7 (7.8) years
- Participants
- 92,275 participants
- Exposure
- Duration of physical activity at different intensities, focus on vigorous-intensity PA (VPA)
- Outcome
- Incident microvascular diseases (nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy) from hospital inpatient records
- Follow-up
- Median 7.9 years
Methodological detailsaccelerometer-measured physical activity, UK Biobank, Cox models and restricted cubic splines
- Accelerometer-measured physical activity
- UK Biobank
- Cox models and restricted cubic splines
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Amount-response association of VPA with overall MVDs
Optimal amount of VPA, minutes/week
38
95% CI 34, 44
HR at optimal VPA amount
0.71
95% CI 0.64, 0.77
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incident microvascular diseases (MVDs) · median follow-up 7.9 years
- Overall MVDs
- 5,201
- Nephropathy
- 2,385
- Neuropathy
- 512
- Retinopathy
- 2,666
Original publication
Optimal amount of vigorous-intensity physical activity for lowering incidence of microvascular diseases: A prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 26 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →