Physical Activity Trajectories Before and After Cardiovascular Disease: Insights from the CARDIA Study

Highlight

• Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) declines steadily from young adulthood into midlife, plateauing thereafter, as shown by CARDIA data.
• Individuals who experienced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events had a sharper pre-event decline in MVPA, especially in the 12 years leading up to their event, with a further steep drop in the last 2 years before CVD onset.
• Post-CVD, MVPA levels remain persistently lower compared to matched controls, with Black women facing the steepest declines and highest risk for sustained low activity.
• Findings underscore the urgent need for tailored strategies to promote lifelong activity and reduce disparities in CVD outcomes.

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