Time trends in leisure time physical activity and physical fitness in elderly people: 20 year follow-up of the Spanish population national health survey (1987-2006)

• Published in: BMC public health 2011-10, Vol.11 (1), p.799-799, Article 799
• Main Authors: Palacios-Ceña, Domingo, Alonso-Blanco, Cristina, Jiménez-Garcia, Rodrigo, Hernández-Barrera, Valentin, Carrasco-Garrido, Pilar, Pileño-Martinez, Elena, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, Cesar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Disease control; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health aspects; Health sciences; Health services; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Leisure Activities; Male; Marital Status; Methods; Occupational therapy; Older people; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Prevention; Preventive medicine; Risk factors; Spain; Statistical analysis; Studies; Surveys; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-799

To estimate trends in leisure time physical activity and physical fitness between 1987-2006 in older Spanish people. We analyzed data collected from the Spanish National Health Surveys conducted in 1987 (n = 29,647), 1993 (n = 20,707), 1995-1997 (n = 12,800), 2001 (n = 21,058), 2003 (n = 21,650), and 2006 (n = 29,478). The number of subjects aged ≥ 65 years included in the current study was 29,263 (1987: n = 4,958-16.7%; 1993: n = 3,751-17.8%; 1995-97: n = 2,229-17.4%; 2001: n = 4,356-20.7%; 2003: 6,134-28.3%; 2006: 7,835-26.5%). Main variables included leisure-time physical activity and physical fitness. We analyzed socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health status, lifestyle habit and co-morbid conditions using multivariate logistic regression models. Women exhibited lower prevalence of leisure time physical activity and physical fitness compared to men (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis for time trends found that practising leisure time physical activity increased from 1987 to 2006 (P < 0.001). Variables associated with a lower likelihood of practicing leisure time physical activity were: age ≥ 80 years old, ≥ 2 co-morbid chronic conditions, and obesity. Variables associated with lower physical fitness included: age ≥ 80 years, worse self rated health; ≥ 2 medications (only for walking), and obesity. We found an increase in leisure time physical activity in the older Spanish population. Older age, married status, co-morbid conditions, obesity, and worse self-perceived health status were associated with lower activity. Identification of these factors can help to identify individuals at risk for physical inactivity.