Customary physical activity and physical health outcomes in later life.
OBJECTIVE
to explore associations between customary physical activity and three longitudinal outcomes: 12-year all-cause mortality, 12-year disease-specific mortality and 8-year change in general practitioner and personal social service use.


METHODS
longitudinal study.


METHODS
1042 people originally aged 65 and over randomly sampled from general practitioner lists in Nottingham, UK.


METHODS
Cox regression survival and logistic regression analyses.


METHODS
questionnaire-assessed levels of physical activity; 12-year mortality; reported health and personal social service contacts in month prior to interview.


RESULTS
on the basis of factor scores derived from the interview questionnaire, activity levels were graded as high, intermediate or low, with respondents grouped accordingly. Relative to the high activity group, 12-year mortality was significantly increased in both the intermediate [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-2.14; P < 0.05] and low (HR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.24-2.48; P < 0.005) activity groups for men, and in the low activity group (HR= 1.73; 95% CI = 1.28-2.33; P < 0.001) for women. Lower levels of activity were also associated with an increased likelihood of using health and personal social services 8 years after the initial interview, and an increased risk among men of having respiratory disease recorded as the primary cause of death. All models were adjusted for age, health and smoking status and weight category as measured at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
the results are consistent with the conclusion that, among elderly people, health gain resulting from higher customary physical activity levels can promote a longer and more independent later life.
Centre for Ageing and Rehabilitation Studies, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, UK. p.a.bath@sheffield.ac.uk
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Bath
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Morgan
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires