Is Self-Reported Physical Activity Participation Associated with Lower Health Services Utilization among Older Adults? Cross-Sectional Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey.
Purpose. To examine relationships between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and health services utilization (H) in a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults. Methods. Cross-sectional data from 56,652 Canadian Community Health Survey respondents aged ≥ 50 years (48% M; 52% F; mean age 63.5 ± 10.2 years) were stratified into three age groups and analysed using multivariate generalized linear modeling techniques. Participants were classified according to PA level based on self-reported daily energy expenditure. Nonleisure PA (NLPA) was categorized into four levels ranging from mostly sitting to mostly lifting objects. Results. Active 50-65-year-old individuals were 27% less likely to report any GP consultations (ORadj = 0.73;  P < 0.001) and had 8% fewer GP consultations annually (IRRadj = 0.92;  P < 0.01) than their inactive peers. Active persons aged 65-79 years were 18% less likely than inactive respondents to have been hospitalized overnight in the previous year (ORadj = 0.82,  P < 0.05). Higher levels of NLPA were significantly associated with lower levels of HSU, across all age groups. Conclusion. Nonleisure PA appeared to be a stronger predictor of all types of HSU, particularly in the two oldest age groups. Considering strategies that focus on reducing time spent in sedentary activities may have a positive impact on reducing the demand for health services.
Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton 800 N. State College Boulevard, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA ; Department of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, 87 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B2.
Koren L
KL
Fisher
School of Physical Therapy, University of Saskatchewan, 1121 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W3.
Elizabeth L
EL
Harrison
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Box 7, Health Science Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5E5.
Bruce A
BA
Reeder
Department of Economics, University of Saskatchewan, Arts 815, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5A5.
Nazmi
N
Sari
Department of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, 87 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B2.
Karen E
KE
Chad