J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 7, Number 11, November 2015, pages 845-852

Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Community Dwelling Elderly

**Table 1.** Clinical Characteristics of the Participants
Clinical characteristics	Women (n = 115)	Men (n = 61)
SD: standard deviation; n: number of cases.
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Weight (kg)	78 (14.7)	82 (11.27)
Height (cm)	156 (0.06)	170 (0.06)
Body mass index	32 (5.09)	28 (3.84)
Diagnosed disease	n (%)	n (%)
Yes	101 (88)	51 (84)
No	14 (12)	10 (16)
Cardiovascular	22 (19)	17 (28)
Diabetes	36 (31)	18 (30)
Hypertension	57 (50)	29 (48)
Hyperlipidemia	25 (22)	5 (8)
Musculoskeletal	70 (61)	25 (41)
Osteoporosis	28 (24)	2 (3)
Sensory function
Visual problems	83 (72)	44 (72)
Hearing problems	23 (20)	7 (12)
Taking medications	95 (83)	50 (82)
Been hospitalized in the last year	28 (24)	11 (18)
Regular medical checkup	63 (55)	34 (56)
Using assistive devices
Glasses	66 (57)	43 (71)
Hearing aids	3 (3)	1 (2)
Cane	12 (10)	12 (20)
Walks duration (min/week)
< 150	57 (50)	17 (28)
150 - 300	52 (45)	33 (54)
> 300	6 (5)	11 (18)

Table 1. Clinical Characteristics of the Participants

Clinical characteristics

Women (n = 115)

Men (n = 61)

SD: standard deviation; n: number of cases.

Mean (SD)

Weight (kg)

78 (14.7)

82 (11.27)

Height (cm)

156 (0.06)

170 (0.06)

Body mass index

32 (5.09)

28 (3.84)

Diagnosed disease

n (%)

Yes

101 (88)

51 (84)

14 (12)

10 (16)

Cardiovascular

22 (19)

17 (28)

Diabetes

36 (31)

18 (30)

Hypertension

57 (50)

29 (48)

Hyperlipidemia

25 (22)

5 (8)

Musculoskeletal

70 (61)

25 (41)

Osteoporosis

28 (24)

2 (3)

Sensory function

Visual problems

83 (72)

44 (72)

Hearing problems

23 (20)

7 (12)

Taking medications

95 (83)

50 (82)

Been hospitalized in the last year

28 (24)

11 (18)

Regular medical checkup

63 (55)

34 (56)

Using assistive devices

Glasses

66 (57)

43 (71)

Hearing aids

3 (3)

1 (2)

Cane

12 (10)

12 (20)

Walks duration (min/week)

< 150

57 (50)

17 (28)

150 - 300

52 (45)

33 (54)

> 300

6 (5)

11 (18)

**Table 2.** Clinical Characteristics Among Different Physical Activity Groups
Variables	Low PA group (n = 74)	Moderate PA group (n = 85)	High PA group (n = 17)	P
Values are presented as percentages, or mean (SD). SD: standard deviation; BMI: body mass index; n: number of cases.
Gender (female/male (n))	57/17	52/33	6/11	0.001
BMI (kg/m²) (mean (SD))	32 (5.1)	30 (4.9)	29 (5.0)	0.029
Diagnosed disease (%)	97	81	65	< 0.001
Cardiovascular (%)	31	17	12	0.01
Diabetes (%)	50	22	6	< 0.001
Hypertension (%)	64	44	12	< 0.001
Osteoporosis (%)	31	7	6	< 0.001
Hyperlipidemia (%)	24	13	6	0.072

Table 2. Clinical Characteristics Among Different Physical Activity Groups

Variables

Low PA group (n = 74)

Moderate PA group (n = 85)

High PA group (n = 17)

Values are presented as percentages, or mean (SD). SD: standard deviation; BMI: body mass index; n: number of cases.

Gender (female/male (n))

57/17

52/33

6/11

0.001

BMI (kg/m²) (mean (SD))

32 (5.1)

30 (4.9)

29 (5.0)

0.029

Diagnosed disease (%)

< 0.001

Cardiovascular (%)

0.01

Diabetes (%)

< 0.001

Hypertension (%)

< 0.001

Osteoporosis (%)

< 0.001

Hyperlipidemia (%)

0.072

**Table 3.** Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) According to Gender
HRQoL variables	Women (n = 115)	Men (n = 61)	P
SD: standard deviation; HRQoL: health-related quality of life; n: number of cases.
Mobility, n (%)
I have no problems in walking about	34 (30)	31 (51)
I have slight problems in walking about	59 (51)	19 (31)
I have moderate problems in walking about	15 (13)	9 (15)	0.030
I have severe problems in walking about	7 (6)	2 (3)
I am unable to walk about	0 (0)	0 (0)
Self-care, n (%)
I have no problems washing or dressing myself	65 (57)	37 (61)
I have slight problems washing or dressing myself	27 (23)	13 (21)
I have moderate problems washing or dressing myself	19 (16)	10 (16)	0.583
I have severe problems washing or dressing myself	3 (3)	1 (2)
I am unable to wash or dress myself	1 (1)	0 (0)
Usual activities (e.g. work, study, housework, family or leisure activities), n (%)
I have no problems doing my usual activities	37 (32)	18 (29)
I have slight problems doing my usual activities	32 (28)	20 (33)	0.850
I have moderate problems doing my usual activities	36 (31)	15 (25)
I have severe problems doing my usual activities	7 (6)	8 (13)
I am unable to do my usual activities	3 (3)	0 (0)
Pain/discomfort, n (%)
I have no pain or discomfort	18 (15)	17 (28)
I have slight pain or discomfort	55 (48)	28 (46)	0.057
I have moderate pain or discomfort	30 (26)	11 (18)
I have severe pain or discomfort	10 (9)	5 (8)
I have extreme pain or discomfort	2 (2)	0 (0)
Anxiety/depression, n (%)
I am not anxious or depressed	30 (26)	20 (33)
I am slightly anxious or depressed	52 (45)	29 (48)	0.108
I am moderately anxious or depressed	14 (12)	10 (16)
I am severely anxious or depressed	18 (16)	2 (3)
I am extremely anxious or depressed	1 (1)	0 (0.0)
EQ-VAS (mean (SD))	70.4 (13.40)	75.8 (14.38)	0.543

Table 3. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) According to Gender

HRQoL variables

Women (n = 115)

Men (n = 61)

SD: standard deviation; HRQoL: health-related quality of life; n: number of cases.

Mobility, n (%)

I have no problems in walking about

34 (30)

31 (51)

I have slight problems in walking about

59 (51)

19 (31)

I have moderate problems in walking about

15 (13)

9 (15)

0.030

I have severe problems in walking about

7 (6)

2 (3)

I am unable to walk about

0 (0)

Self-care, n (%)

I have no problems washing or dressing myself

65 (57)

37 (61)

I have slight problems washing or dressing myself

27 (23)

13 (21)

I have moderate problems washing or dressing myself

19 (16)

10 (16)

0.583

I have severe problems washing or dressing myself

3 (3)

1 (2)

I am unable to wash or dress myself

1 (1)

0 (0)

Usual activities (e.g. work, study, housework, family or leisure activities), n (%)

I have no problems doing my usual activities

37 (32)

18 (29)

I have slight problems doing my usual activities

32 (28)

20 (33)

0.850

I have moderate problems doing my usual activities

36 (31)

15 (25)

I have severe problems doing my usual activities

7 (6)

8 (13)

I am unable to do my usual activities

3 (3)

0 (0)

Pain/discomfort, n (%)

I have no pain or discomfort

18 (15)

17 (28)

I have slight pain or discomfort

55 (48)

28 (46)

0.057

I have moderate pain or discomfort

30 (26)

11 (18)

I have severe pain or discomfort

10 (9)

5 (8)

I have extreme pain or discomfort

2 (2)

0 (0)

Anxiety/depression, n (%)

I am not anxious or depressed

30 (26)

20 (33)

I am slightly anxious or depressed

52 (45)

29 (48)

0.108

I am moderately anxious or depressed

14 (12)

10 (16)

I am severely anxious or depressed

18 (16)

2 (3)

I am extremely anxious or depressed

1 (1)

0 (0.0)

EQ-VAS (mean (SD))

70.4 (13.40)

75.8 (14.38)

0.543

**Table 4.** Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Measures Among Physical Activity (PA) Groups
HRQoL variables	Low PA group (n = 74)	Moderate PA group (n = 85)	High PA group (n = 17)	P₁	P₂
P₁: comparison between low and moderate PA groups; P₂: comparison between low and high PA groups.
Mobility, n (%)
I have no problems in walking about	11 (15)	41 (48)	13 (76)
I have slight problems in walking about	33 (45)	42 (49)	3 (18)
I have moderate problems in walking about	21 (28)	2 (3)	1 (6)	< 0.001	< 0.001
I have severe problems in walking about	9 (12)	0 (0)	0 (0)
I am unable to walk about	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Self-care, n (%)
I have no problems washing or dressing myself	25 (34)	64 (75)	13 (77)
I have slight problems washing or dressing myself	16 (22)	20 (24)	4 (23)
I have moderate problems washing or dressing myself	28 (38)	1 (1)	0 (0)
I have severe problems washing or dressing myself	4 (5)	0 (0)	0 (0)	< 0.001	< 0.001
I am unable to wash or dress myself	1 (1)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Usual activities (e.g. work, study, housework, family or leisure activities), n (%)
I have no problems doing my usual activities	13 (18)	31 (36)	11 (65)
I have slight problems doing my usual activities	14 (19)	33 (39)	5 (29)
I have moderate problems doing my usual activities	33 (44)	17 (20)	1 (6)
I have severe problems doing my usual activities	11 (15)	4 (5)	0 (0)
I am unable to do my usual activities	3 (4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	< 0.001	< 0.001
Pain/discomfort, n (%)
I have no pain or discomfort	10 (13)	20 (23)	5 (29)
I have slight pain or discomfort	27 (36)	49 (58)	7 (42)
I have moderate pain or discomfort	22 (30)	14 (16)	5 (29)	< 0.001	0.034
I have severe pain or discomfort	13 (18)	2 (2)	0 (0)
I have extreme pain or discomfort	2 (3)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Anxiety/depression, n (%)
I am not anxious or depressed	15 (20)	27 (32)	8 (47)
I am slightly anxious or depressed	27 (37)	46 (54)	8 (47)
I am moderately anxious or depressed	17 (23)	6 (7)	1 (6)	0.001	0.002
I am severely anxious or depressed	14 (19)	6 (7)	0 (0)
I am extremely anxious or depressed	1 (1)	0 (0)	0 (0)
EQ-VAS (mean (SD))	63 (13.51)	78 (9.74)	85 (9.43)	< 0.001	< 0.001

Table 4. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Measures Among Physical Activity (PA) Groups

HRQoL variables

Low PA group (n = 74)

Moderate PA group (n = 85)

High PA group (n = 17)

P₁

P₂

P₁: comparison between low and moderate PA groups; P₂: comparison between low and high PA groups.

Mobility, n (%)

I have no problems in walking about

11 (15)

41 (48)

13 (76)

I have slight problems in walking about

33 (45)

42 (49)

3 (18)

I have moderate problems in walking about

21 (28)

2 (3)

1 (6)

< 0.001

I have severe problems in walking about

9 (12)

0 (0)

I am unable to walk about

0 (0)

Self-care, n (%)

I have no problems washing or dressing myself

25 (34)

64 (75)

13 (77)

I have slight problems washing or dressing myself

16 (22)

20 (24)

4 (23)

I have moderate problems washing or dressing myself

28 (38)

1 (1)

0 (0)

I have severe problems washing or dressing myself

4 (5)

0 (0)

< 0.001

I am unable to wash or dress myself

1 (1)

0 (0)

Usual activities (e.g. work, study, housework, family or leisure activities), n (%)

I have no problems doing my usual activities

13 (18)

31 (36)

11 (65)

I have slight problems doing my usual activities

14 (19)

33 (39)

5 (29)

I have moderate problems doing my usual activities

33 (44)

17 (20)

1 (6)

I have severe problems doing my usual activities

11 (15)

4 (5)

0 (0)

I am unable to do my usual activities

3 (4)

0 (0)

< 0.001

Pain/discomfort, n (%)

I have no pain or discomfort

10 (13)

20 (23)

5 (29)

I have slight pain or discomfort

27 (36)

49 (58)

7 (42)

I have moderate pain or discomfort

22 (30)

14 (16)

5 (29)

< 0.001

0.034

I have severe pain or discomfort

13 (18)

2 (2)

0 (0)

I have extreme pain or discomfort

2 (3)

0 (0)

Anxiety/depression, n (%)

I am not anxious or depressed

15 (20)

27 (32)

8 (47)

I am slightly anxious or depressed

27 (37)

46 (54)

8 (47)

I am moderately anxious or depressed

17 (23)

6 (7)

1 (6)

0.001

0.002

I am severely anxious or depressed

14 (19)

6 (7)

0 (0)

I am extremely anxious or depressed

1 (1)

0 (0)

EQ-VAS (mean (SD))

63 (13.51)

78 (9.74)

85 (9.43)

< 0.001

**Table 5.** Correlation Between HRQoL Variables and PA Level
Variable	r_s	95% confidence interval
r_s: Spearman’s correlation coefficient; HRQoL: health-related quality of life; EQ: Euro Quality.
HRQoL variables
Mobility	-0.630	-0.669	-0.418
Self-care	-0.526	-0.614	-0.352
Usual activities	-0.536	-0.617	-0.356
Pain/discomfort	-0.353	-0.458	-0.174
Anxiety/depression	-0.381	-0.479	0.197
EQ visual analogue scale	0.657	0.463	0.706

Table 5. Correlation Between HRQoL Variables and PA Level

Variable

r_s

95% confidence interval

Lower

Upper

r_s: Spearman’s correlation coefficient; HRQoL: health-related quality of life; EQ: Euro Quality.

HRQoL variables

Mobility

-0.630

-0.669

-0.418

Self-care

-0.526

-0.614

-0.352

Usual activities

-0.536

-0.617

-0.356

Pain/discomfort

-0.353

-0.458

-0.174

Anxiety/depression

-0.381

-0.479

0.197

EQ visual analogue scale

0.657

0.463

0.706