Physical activity and health related quality of life among people with arthritis.
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.
Abell
Jill E
JE
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Hootman
Jennifer M
JM
Zack
Matthew M
MM
Moriarty
David
D
Helmick
Charles G
CG
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