New large-scale research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that a higher level of cardiovascular fitness is linked to a lower risk of death, especially in those with an extremely high level of fitness. Carried out by researchers at Cleveland Clinic in the USA, the new study looked at 122,007 participants who underwent exercise treadmill testing to assess the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and all-cause mortality. Participants were divided into five fitness performance groups — elite, high, above average, below average and low — with elite performers defined as having aerobic fitness in the top two and half percent by age and gender, and demonstrating fitness levels comparable to those of endurance athletes. The researchers also gathered data on age and sex of participants, height, weight, and body mass index, smoking status, and any medications or existing diseases such as a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension. After taking into account these factors, the findings showed that increased cardiorespiratory fitness was directly associated with reduced long-term mortality. Published in Daily Times, October 23rd 2018.