Physical activity pattern and its relation with cardiovascular risk factors was investigated in 1,402 men aged 69-90 years who participated in the 30-year follow-up survey of the Finnish (Eastern and Western Finland), Italian (Montegiorgio and Crevalcore), and Dutch (Zutphen) cohorts of the Seven Countries Study. Physical activity was assessed with a validated self-administered questionnaire designed for retired men. Total physical activity varied largely within cohorts. Median total reported physical activity ranged from 50 minutes/day in Montegiorgio to 89 minutes/day in Crevalcore. Walking, gardening, and bicycling together contributed more than 70% of total physical activity in all cohorts. Depending on the definition of physical inactivity, the estimated prevalence of inactivity varied between 5% and 33% in Zutphen and between 18% and 68% in Montegiorgio. Total physical activity was inversely associated with resting heart rate (r= -0.11, p < 0.001) and was positively associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r = 0.08, p < 0.01) in pooled data. These associations remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, cohort, smoking, body mass index, and alcohol intake. Total activity was not associated with total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, or body mass index. The authors conclude that physical activity may have a beneficial effect on HDL cholesterol levels in elderly men. Walking, gardening, and bicycling contribute substantially to their physical activity pattern.