Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts
Harmonised pooled analysis of 15 cohorts (47,471 adults) links higher device-measured daily steps to lower all-cause mortality with non-linear, age-dependent plateaus below the popular 10,000-steps/day target.
Design
- 15 cohorts, 47,471 adults, 3,013 deaths in pooled follow-up (median ~7.1 years)
- Hip accelerometer steps/day harmonised across studies
Dose–response headline
Higher step quarters versus the lowest (~3,500–3,600 steps/day referent in pooled narrative) track progressively lower all-cause mortality, with flattening at high volumes; authors emphasise age-specific practical targets (~6,000–8,000/day commonly cited for ≥60 y, ~8,000–10,000 for younger groups—confirm in figures).
Evidence hygiene
Prospective observational evidence—reverse causation and socioeconomic confounding remain; pair with postprandial walking RCTs for mechanistic glycaemia.
Publication
Paluch AE, Bajpai S, Bassett DR, et al. Lancet Public Health. 2022 Mar;7(3):e219-e228. PMID 35247352.
Outcomes
- Harmonised 15-cohort meta-analysis: higher daily step counts associated with lower all-cause mortality in non-linear models; authors highlight age-dependent step targets below the popular 10,000-step goal.