title: Physical activity and health related quality of life among people with arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between physical activity and health related quality of life (HRQOL) among persons with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms (CJS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional survey investigating the relation between physical activity level and HRQOL. HRQOL was estimated using the number of physically or mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days. Physical activity was categorised as recommended, insufficient, or inactive according to federal activity recommendations. Persons with arthritis were defined as those with either self reported CJS or doctor diagnosed arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community dwelling, US adults residing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents (n = 212 000) in the 2001 behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS), an annual population based, telephone survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 33% of BRFSS respondents with arthritis had a mean of 6.7 physically and 4.9 mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days, compared with 1.8 and 2.7 among those without arthritis. Inactive men and women were 1.2-2.4 times more likely to report impaired HRQOL compared with those who met physical activity recommendations. Men and women who engage in insufficient physical activity also report variably reduced HRQOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among people with arthritis, recommended levels of physical activity were associated with fewer mean physically and mentally unhealthy days and a decreased probability of having severely impaired physical or mental HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Abell
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hootman
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zack
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Helmick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life