title: Leisure-time physical activity and health-care utilization in older adults.
abstract: This study examined whether leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was associated with health-care utilization in a racially diverse sample of rural and urban older adults. Community-dwelling adults (N = 1,000, 75.32 +/- 6.72 years old) self-reported participating in LTPA and their use of the health-care system (physician visits, number and length of hospitalizations, and emergency-room visits). After controlling for variables associated with health and health-care utilization, older adults who reported lower levels of LTPA also reported a greater number of nights in the hospital in the preceding year. There was no support, however, for a relationship between LTPA and the other indicators of health-care utilization. Our findings suggest that being physically active might translate to a quicker recovery for older adults who are hospitalized. Being physically active might not only have health benefits for older persons but also lead to lower health-care costs.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine, the Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M Paige
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness