title: Time trends in leisure time physical activity and physical fitness in elderly people: 20 year follow-up of the Spanish population national health survey (1987-2006).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To estimate trends in leisure time physical activity and physical fitness between 1987-2006 in older Spanish people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data collected from the Spanish National Health Surveys conducted in 1987 (n = 29,647), 1993 (n = 20,707), 1995-1997 (n = 12,800), 2001 (n = 21,058), 2003 (n = 21,650), and 2006 (n = 29,478). The number of subjects aged ≥ 65 years included in the current study was 29,263 (1987: n = 4,958-16.7%; 1993: n = 3,751-17.8%; 1995-97: n = 2,229-17.4%; 2001: n = 4,356-20.7%; 2003: 6,134-28.3%; 2006: 7,835-26.5%). Main variables included leisure-time physical activity and physical fitness. We analyzed socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health status, lifestyle habit and co-morbid conditions using multivariate logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women exhibited lower prevalence of leisure time physical activity and physical fitness compared to men (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis for time trends found that practising leisure time physical activity increased from 1987 to 2006 (P < 0.001). Variables associated with a lower likelihood of practicing leisure time physical activity were: age ≥ 80 years old, ≥ 2 co-morbid chronic conditions, and obesity. Variables associated with lower physical fitness included: age ≥ 80 years, worse self rated health; ≥ 2 medications (only for walking), and obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an increase in leisure time physical activity in the older Spanish population. Older age, married status, co-morbid conditions, obesity, and worse self-perceived health status were associated with lower activity. Identification of these factors can help to identify individuals at risk for physical inactivity.
authors: Department of Health Science II, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain. domingo.palacios@urjc.es
authors: Domingo
authors: D
authors: Palacios-Ceña
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Alonso-Blanco
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Jiménez-Garcia
authors: Valentin
authors: V
authors: Hernández-Barrera
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Carrasco-Garrido
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Pileño-Martinez
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors