title: The physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE): evidence for validity.
abstract: We assessed the validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in a sample of sedentary adults (56 men, 134 women, mean age +/- [SD] 66.5+/-5.3 years) who volunteered to participate in a randomized controlled trial on the effect of aerobic conditioning on psychological function. Construct validity was established by correlating PASE scores with physiologic and performance characteristics: peak oxygen uptake, resting heart rate and blood pressure, percent body fat, and balance. The mean PASE scores were higher in men than in women (men = 145.8+/-78.0; women = 123.9+/-66.3, P<0.05), and in those age 55-64 years compared with those age 65 years and over (55-64 = 144.2+/-75.8; 65 and over = 118.9+/-63.9, P<0.05). PASE scores were also significantly higher in those who did not report a chronic health condition (cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, or recent surgery). PASE scores were significantly associated (P<0.05) with peak oxygen uptake (r = 0.20), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.18) and balance score (r = 0.20). No significant associations of PASE score and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, or percent body fat were noted. These results provide additional evidence for the validity of the PASE as a measure of physical activity suitable for use in epidemiology studies on the association of physical activity, health, and physical function in older individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Washburn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katula
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mihalko
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Boileau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results