Exercise in controlled trials of the prevention of coronary heart disease.

A collaborative investigation of the feasibility of using physical activity in trials of coro­ nary heart disease was conducted at three universities. Volunteers were recruited from a total population of 3,648 men aged 40 through 59 by a stepwise process. Two hundred nine men were randomized to treatment groups and 176 to control groups. Recruit­ ment behavior of volunteers was not associated with serum cholesterol level, blood pres­ sure, or occupational physical activity but smokers volunteered less often than non­ smokers and men engaged in recreational physical activity volunteered more frequently than the sedentary_ Treatment was conducted by relatively high intensity physical ac­ tivity programs three times a week. Adherence declined to 50% of the prescription within 6 months and remained relatively stable for the following 9-15 months_ No differences developed between the control and treatment groups in serum cholesterol, blood pressure, or smoking habits. On the other hand, cardiopulmonary conditioning was increased in the treatment groups above that in the control groups. The current status of the relationship of physical activity to the development of coronary heart dis­ ease is discussed.-TAYLOR, H. L., E. R_ BUSKIRK AND R. O. REMINGTON. Exercise in controlled trials of the prevention of coronary heart disease_ Federation Proc_ 32: 1623-1627, 1973_