title: Health-related quality of life and aerobic fitness in people with schizophrenia.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether aerobic fitness contributes to the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with schizophrenia, while adjusting for other previously-established contributory factors. Thirty-four male (34.1 ± 12.0 years) and 13 female (34.3 ± 9.2 years) participants performed a submaximal Astrand-Rhyming cycle ergometer test and completed the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Psychosis Evaluation tool for Common Use by Caregivers. After controlling for age and sex, illness duration (12.4 ± 11.2 years, r(2) = 0.38, P < 0.001), fewer positive (9.3 ± 4.3, r(2) = 0.30, P = 0.006) and cognitive (8.4 ± 3.8, r(2) = 0.28, P = 0.011) symptoms, and higher aerobic fitness (34.5 ± 8.7 ml O2  min(-1) kg(-1), r(2) = 0.36, P = 0.001) were found to be independent significant predictors of physical HRQoL (mean score 66.6 ± 18.5). However, when all variables were included in the same regression model, only illness duration (P = 0.004) and positive symptoms (P = 0.045) remained significant predictors, while there was a trend (P < 0.10) for age and aerobic fitness. The final model explained 54% of the variability in physical HRQoL. No significant correlates for mental HRQoL (54.9 ± 18.5) were found. People with schizophrenia might improve their physical HRQoL by improving their aerobic fitness. Mental health nurses should assist in facilitating improvements in aerobic fitness through facilitating physical activity participation in patients with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vancampfort
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guelinckx
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, University of Greenwich, London, UK.
authors.forename: Brendon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Schizophrenia Research Unit.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Schizophrenia Research Unit.
authors.forename: Philip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|School of Health and Social Care, University of Greenwich, London, UK.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Hert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: aerobic fitness; psychosis; quality of life; schizophrenia