Is Self-Reported Physical Activity Participation Associated with Lower Health Services Utilization among Older Adults? Cross-Sectional Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

Koren L Fisher,Nazmi Sari,Bruce A Reeder,Elizabeth L Harrison,Karen E Chad

doi:10.1155/2015/425354

Abstract

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.

Highlights

The importance of physical activity (PA) in reducing chronic disease and maintaining good health and functional independence has been well documented [1,2,3,4,5]
Most respondents in the oldest age group were not married and the majority had completed high school, this age group was more evenly split across education levels
Between 10% and 22% of respondents reported that they did not consult with a general practitioner (GP) physician in the 12-month period, somewhat of a concerning finding from a health perspective given that it may mean that older adults are going without preventative health care or are having difficulty accessing necessary care

Summary

Introduction

The importance of physical activity (PA) in reducing chronic disease and maintaining good health and functional independence has been well documented [1,2,3,4,5]. The health benefits of exercise, including enhanced cardiovascular functioning, improved glucose tolerance, and obesity reduction, are well known [1,2,3, 6]. Improvements in conditions such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and certain forms of cancer [1, 2, 4, 5, 7], positive changes in mental health, related to depression and stress management, and improvements in cognitive ability, quality of life, and well-being [4, 5] have been linked to increased PA levels. Among policymakers and health providers alike, there is growing interest in the potential role of PA as a strategy to mitigate these challenges [10, 17, 18]

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