Physical Activity Over the Lifecourse and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Despite improvements in cardiovascular care in recent decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death worldwide. At its core, CVD is a largely preventable disease with diligent risk factor management and early detection. As highlighted in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8, physical activity plays a central role in CVD prevention at an individual and population level. Despite pervasive knowledge of the numerous cardiovascular and noncardiovascular health benefits of physical activity, physical activity has steadily decreased over time and unfavorable changes in physical activity occur throughout people's lives. Here, we use a lifecourse framework to examine the evidence reporting on the association of physical activity with CVD. From in utero to older adults, we review and discuss the evidence detailing how physical activity may prevent incident CVD and mitigate CVD-related morbidity and death across all life stages.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; coronary heart disease; exercise; myocardial infarction; physical activity.

Figure 1:. Physical activity and prevention of cardiovascular disease over the lifecourse.

Physical activity plays central roles in the primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease throughout the lifecourse. CAD = coronary artery disease; PVD = peripheral vascular disease; CVD = cardiovascular disease.