Transcript Self-Reported Pain in the Elderly and Relationship to

Factors Associated with Physical Activity
Frequency among the Elderly:
A Longitudinal Investigation
Kelli L. Dominick, Frank M. Ahern, Carol H. Gold
Department of Biobehavioral Health,
The Pennsylvania State University
Project supported by the National Institute on Aging and the
Alcohol Beverage Medical Research Foundation
Introduction

Benefits of regular physical activity for older adults are
well-established

Number of individuals 65 years and older expected to
grow from 34.7 million to 69.4 million in next 30 years

Important to monitor physical activity patterns and
associated factors among growing elderly population
Study Description

Baseline (1990-91) and follow-up (1995-96) studies
designed to examine the prevalence and outcomes
associated with use of alcohol and alcohol-interactive
drugs among the elderly
 Mail and telephone surveys
 Drug claims data

Only alcohol drinkers at baseline were included in
follow-up study
Objectives of Present
Investigation
 Describe baseline patterns of self-reported physical activity
frequency in a population of individuals 65 years and older
 Describe changes in physical activity at 5-year follow-up
 Identify factors (demographic, physical and emotional
health-related, and medication-related) associated with
baseline and follow-up physical activity frequency
Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract
for the Elderly (PACE)
 Provides pharmaceutical assistance for
qualified individuals:
Pennsylvania residents
65 years of age and older
Income:
 < $17,200 if married
 < $14,000 if single
Study Sample Description
 N=840
 Individuals who were alcohol drinkers at baseline
 72% Female, 28% Male
 Mean age: 73.4 + 4.5 years
(Range: 66-90)
Patterns of Self-Reported
Exercise Frequency
% of Subjects
45
40
35
41.7
30
25
20
15
39.6
23.5
22.119.6
18.116.6
18.7
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
None
Seldom
Sometimes
Regularly
Relationship of Demographic
Factors to Exercise Frequency
(Controlling for
T1 exercise.)
Exercise Frequencies of Younger
and Older Subjects
35
32.6
% of Subjects
30
24.6
25
21.4
20.1
21.3
None
20 17.2
15.6
14.6
15
10
5
0
Time1
Time 2
65-74 Years
Time1
Time 2
75 + Years
Regularly
Relationship of Self-Reported Health
to Exercise Frequency
(Controlling for age
and gender.)
(Controlling for
age, gender, and T1
exercise.)
% of Subjects
Relationship of Physical Health
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
20.0
14.6
29.1
16.0
36.8
45.4
20.5
64.0
28.0
14.9
10.6
Very PoorPoor
Fair
GoodExcellent
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
% of Subjects
Relationship of Emotional Health
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
13.2
26.7
46.2
42.7
41.2
7.8
18.4
16.6
46.2
25.7
15.6
Very PoorPoor
Fair
GoodExcellent
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
Relationship of Prescription Drug Use
to Exercise Frequency
(Controlling for age
and gender.)
(Controlling for
age, gender, and T1
exercise.)
Mean number of Drugs
Relationship of Total Drug Use
to Exercise Frequency
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
4.7
4.1
4.2
3.7 3.6
3.7
3.4 3.3
Never
Seldom
Sometimes
Regularly
Time 1
Time 2
Relationship of Analgesic Use
to Exercise Frequency
30
25.9
% of Subjects
25
25.7
25.3
21.0 20.6
20
16.6
15.6
15
12.7
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Non-Users
Time 1
Time 2
Users
Never
Regular
Relationship of Psychotherapeutic
Drug Use to Exercise Frequency
30
25.2
% of Subjects
25
20
25.0
21.8
19.5
18.0
19.0
15
10.7
10.1
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Non-Users
Time 1
Time 2
Users
Never
Regular
Relationship of Medical Conditions to
Exercise Frequency
(Controlling for age
and gender.)
(Controlling for
age, gender, and T1
exercise.)
Relationship of Medical Conditions
to Exercise Frequency
(Controlling for age
and gender.)
(Controlling for
age, gender, and T1
exercise.)
Relationship of Arthritis
to Exercise Frequency
30
26.0
25.4
% of Subjects
25
21.3
21.9 21.3
19.4
20
15.1
15.0
15
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Not Affected
Time 1
Time 2
Affected
Never
Regular
Relationship of Depression
to Exercise Frequency
40
34.2
% of Subjects
35
30
25
20
27.4
25.1
20.2 19.7
16.5
15.0
15
12.2
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Not Affected
Time 1
Time 2
Affected
Never
Regular
Relationship of Diabetes
to Exercise Frequency
35
31.3
30
23.8 23.8
% of Subjects
24.0
25
20
21.0 19.8
17.5
Never
Regular
15
9.4
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Not Affected
Time 1
Time 2
Affected
% of Subjects
Relationship of Back Pain
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
14.2
27.1
41.2
41.9
20.1
15.3
24.5
15.7
Not Affected
Affected
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
Summary
 Overall decline in self-reported physical activity frequency
over 5 year period
Larger decline among individuals 75 and older at
baseline
 Baseline physical activity frequency strongly related both
physical and emotional health
Certain medical conditions and use of certain prescription
medications more strongly related to physical activity
frequency
Future Directions
 Continue to monitor physical activity in our growing elderly
population, with particular attention to those 75 years and
older
 Examine barriers to physical activity among elderly with
different medical conditions
 Develop interventions and public health initiatives that may
facilitate physical activity in these groups
 Explore further the relationship between prescription drug
use and physical activity
% of Subjects
Relationship of Eye Problems
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
24.7
14.5
41.0
41.8
16.9
16.6
27.7
16.9
Not Affected
Affected
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
Relationship of Circulation
Problems to Exercise Frequency
35
30.1
% of Subjects
30
25
20
27.4
24.0
21.0 20.1
18.0
16.4
15
10.8
10
5
0
Time 1
Time 2
Not Affected
Time 1
Time 2
Affected
Never
Regular
% of Subjects
Relationship of Lung Problems
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
23.9
19.7
34.4
42.3
11.5
17.1
34.3
16.7
Not Affected
Affected
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
% of Subjects
Relationship of GI Problems
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
24.1
16.3
36.7
42.0
12.2
17.0
34.7
17.0
Not Affected
Affected
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
% of Subjects
Relationship of Dizziness
to Time 1 Exercise Frequency
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
24.4
17.8
33.3
42.8
22.2
15.9
26.7
17.0
Not Affected
Affected
Regularly
Sometimes
Seldom
Never