Table 1 Prospective studies of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness and sudden cardiac death

Leon AS et al., 1987 [20], USA

The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial

1973–1976 - 1982, 7 years follow-up

12,138 men, age 35–57 years: 143 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

1

2

3

1.00

0.64 (0.54–0.96)

0.67 (0.45–1.00)

Age, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, cigarettes per day, treatment group

Wannamethee G et al., 1995 [19], United Kingdom

British Regional Heart Study

1978–1980 - NA, 8 years follow-up

7730 men, age 40–59 years: 117 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

None-occasional

Light

Moderate

Moderately vigorous-vigorous

1.0

0.7 (0.5–1.1)

0.6 (0.4–1.1)

0.4 (0.2–0.7)

Age

Jouven X et al., 2001 [21], France

Paris Prospective Study 1

1967–1972 - 1994, 23 years follow-up

7079 men and women, age 42–53 years: 118 sudden deaths

Sports activity

Yes vs. no

0.43 (0.08–1.42)

Age, parental sudden death, parental myocardial infarction, diabetes, tobacco, BMI, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol

Chiuve SE et al., 2011 [9], USA

Nurses’ Health Study

1984–2010, 26 years follow-up

81,722 women, age 38–63 years: 321 sudden cardiac deaths

Exercise

< 1 h/wk.

1–1.9

2–3.4

3.5–5.9

≥6.0

1.00

0.86 (0.60–1.23)

0.84 (0.58–1.21)

0.72 (0.50–1.04)

0.47 (0.30–0.72)

Age, family history of myocardial infarction, menopausal status, current hormone therapy use, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke

Lahtinen AM et al., 2012 [12], Finland

FINRISK 1992

1992–2008, ~ 16 years follow-up

5345 men and women, mean age 44.3 years: 129 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

Moderate/high vs. low

0.56 (0.41–0.78)

Age, sex, geographic region, HDL/TC ratio, systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, BMI, prevalent coronary heart disease, QT-prolonging drug, digoxin

Lahtinen AM et al., 2012 [12], Finland

FINRISK 1997

1997–2008, ~ 11 years follow-up

7672 men and women, mean age 48.4 years: 178 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

Moderate/high vs. low

0.58 (0.42–0.80)

Age, sex, geographic region, HDL/TC ratio, systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, BMI, prevalent coronary heart disease, QT-prolonging drug, digoxin

Lahtinen AM et al., 2012 [12], Finland

FINRISK 2002

2002–2008, ~ 6 years follow-up

8212 men and women, mean age 48.0 years: 75 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

Moderate/high vs. low

0.42 (0.26–0.66)

Age, sex, geographic region, HDL/TC ratio, systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, BMI, prevalent coronary heart disease, QT-prolonging drug, digoxin

Lahtinen AM et al., 2012 [12], Finland

Health 2000

2000–2008, ~ 8 years follow-up

6400 men and women, mean age 53.0 years: 112 sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity

Moderate/high vs. low

0.45 (0.31–0.65)

Age, sex, geographic region, HDL/TC ratio, systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, BMI, prevalent coronary heart disease, QT- prolonging drug, digoxin

Hamer M et al., 2018 [32], United Kingdom

The Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Surveys

1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008–2009, 9.4 years follow-up

65,093 men and women, age ≥ 40 years: 70 arrhythmia/ sudden cardiac deaths

Leisure-time physical activity - meeting recommendations

Leisure-time physical activity

Inactive

Insufficient

Sufficient

High

< 1.64 MET-hours/wk.

1.65–9.37

9.38–19.30

19.31–37.60

> 37.60

1.00

0.48 (0.14–1.20)

0.52 (0.12–2.15)

0.33 (0.10–2.38)

1.00

0.96 (0.53–1.76)

0.68 (0.32–1.43)

0.49 (0.20–1.16)

0.18 (0.04–0.76)

Age, sex, smoking, social occupational group, chronic illnesses, psychological distress

Paffenberger RS et al., 1975, [34] USA

Longshoremen

1951–1961 - 1972, 14.6 years follow-up

6351 men, age 35–74 years: 184 sudden cardiac deaths

Work activity

1

2

3

1.00

0.29 (0.20–0.42)

0.36 (0.22–0.59)

Age

Albert CM et al., 2000 [33], USA

Physicians’ Health Study

1982–1994, 12 years follow-up

21,481 men, age 40–84 years: 109 sudden cardiac deaths

Vigorous exercise

< 1 time/wk.

1/wk.

2–4/wk.

≥5/wk

1.00

1.68 (0.98–2.87)

1.13 (0.69–1.88)

1.36 (0.76–2.43)

Age, assignment to aspirin and beta-carotene treatment, BMI, smoking status, cigarettes per day, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, alcohol, vitamin E, vitamin C, multivitamin use, fish

Jimenez-Pavon D et al., 2016 [22], USA

Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study

1974–2002 - 2003, 14.7 years follow-up

55,456 men and women, mean age 44.2 years: 109 sudden cardiac deaths

Cardiorespiratory fitness

1

2

3

Per 1 MET

1.00

0.56 (0.35–0.90)

0.52 (0.30–0.92)

0.86 (0.77–0.96)

Age, sex, examination year, BMI, smoking, alcohol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, electrocardiogram showing abnormalities, parental history of cardiovascular disease

Jae SY et al., 2018 [23], Finland

Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factors Study

1984–1989 - 2014, 22 years follow-up

2357 men, age 42–60 years: 253 sudden cardiac deaths

Cardiorespiratory fitness

< 26.7 ml/kg/min

26.7–33.0

> 33.0

1.00

0.80 (0.58–1.10)

0.61 (0.40–0.92)

Age, smoking, SBP, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, glucose, diabetes, hypertension, FH - CHD, previous MI, physical activity, BMI