title: Adopting leisure-time physical activity after diagnosis of a vascular condition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A better understanding of factors associated with adopting leisure-time physical activity among people with chronic vascular conditions can help policy-makers and health care professionals develop strategies to promote secondary prevention among older Canadians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from the 1994/1995 National Population Health Survey (NPHS), household component, and the 2007/2008 Canadian Community Health Survey were used to estimate the prevalence of inactivity. Longitudinal data from eight cycles (1994/1995 through 2008/2009) of the NPHS, household component, were used to examine the adoption of leisure-time physical activity, intentions to change health risk behaviours, and barriers to change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half (54%) of the population aged 40 or older were inactive during their leisure time in 2007/2008. A new vascular diagnosis was not associated with initiating leisure-time physical activity. Among the newly diagnosed, those with no disability or a mild disability had higher odds of undertaking leisure-time physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Canadians in mid- to late life are inactive. They tend to remain so when diagnosed with a vascular condition.
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. Pamela.Ramage-Morin@statcan.gc.ca
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ramage-Morin
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Newsom
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.forename: Bentson H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*