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

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.