Preventable Ischaemic Heart Disease and Stroke Deaths Attributable to Insufficient Physical Activity: A Comparative Risk Assessment Analysis in the Argentinian Population

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity is estimated to be the 9th leading risk factor for all-cause mortality in Argentina. However, its impact on specific causes of death has not been evaluated using nationally representative data. Design: We conducted a comparative risk assessment analysis to estimate the proportion and number of IHD and stroke deaths in Argentina that are attributable to different non-optimal levels of physical activity (PA). Methods: We obtained data on prevalence of different levels of PA from the Argentinian National Survey of Risk Factors in 2013 and used relative risks for IHD and stroke mortality from previous meta-analyses. Deaths due to IHD and stroke, by age and sex, were obtained from the national death registry for the year 2010. We considered 4 categories of PA based on the metabolic equivalent tasks per minute per week (METs.min/week): inactive, < 600, ≥ 600 to < 1,600 and ≥ 1,600. Results: In Argentina, 76.8% (CI 95%; 75.8%-77.7%) of the population older than 30-years-old engaged in < 1,600 METs.min/week. This level of insufficient activity contributed to 26% of CVD deaths (IHD or stroke) (11,234 of 43,796 deaths; 6,013 in men and 5,221 in women); 29% (7,292) of IHD deaths; and 21% (3,942) of stroke deaths. The impact of insufficient PA was higher in individuals younger than 70-years-old due to stronger associations between non-optimal PA and mortality from IHD and stroke. Conclusions: A non-optimal level of PA contributes substantially to the mortality burden of cardiovascular diseases in Argentina, especially in individuals under 70-years-old. More substantial resources should be directed toward enhancing built and social environments which are essential to effectively increase PA, to improve health-related quality of life and reduce the burden of cardio-metabolic diseases in Argentina.