Impact of changes in television viewing on total mortality: A prospective cohort study

FARE Award Winner

Authors

• SK Keadle
• H Arem
• SC Moore
• JN Sampson
• CE Matthews

Abstract

Background: Television viewing is a highly prevalent sedentary behavior among older adults. This study examined: 1) the long-term association between mortality and daily viewing time; 2) the influence of reducing and increasing in television viewing time on longevity and 3) combined effects of television viewing and exercise participation on longevity. Methods: Participants included 167,083 adults in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health (aged 50-71yrs) who completed questionnaires at two-time-points (Time 1: 1994-1996, and Time 2: 2004-2006) and were followed until death or December 31, 2011. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate Hazard Ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with self-reported television viewing and exercise and all-cause mortality. Results Over 6.6 years of follow-up, there were 20,387 deaths. Compared to adults who watched < 3 h/day of television, mortality risk was 29% greater (CI:1.23,1.36) those who watched 5+ h/day at both time-points. Mortality risk was 15% lower for those who decreased television to 3-4 h/day (CI:0.80, 0.91) and 11% lower (CI:0.80, 0.98) for those who reduced viewing to

Scientific Focus Area: Epidemiology

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