Location and deprivation are important influencers of physical activity in primary care populations

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate the physical activity of adults attending primary care services in the Republic of Ireland and to determine whether the location (urban/rural) and deprivation of the primary care centre influenced physical activity. Study designCross sectional study. MethodsStratified random sampling based on urban/rural location and deprivation was used to identify three primary care centres from a list of established primary care teams in the Leinster region. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to collate data on physical activity category (low/moderate/high), total weekly activity (MET-minutes/week) and weekly walking (MET-minutes/week) of participants. ResultsData from 885 participants with a median age of 39 years (IQR 31–53) were analysed. There were significant differences in physical activity between the primary care areas (P < 0.001). Rural mixed deprivation participants were the least active with almost 60% of this group (59.4%, n = 177) classified as inactive (535 median MET-minutes/week, IQR 132–1197). Urban deprived participants were the most active (low active 37.6%, n = 111, 975 median MET-minutes/week, IQR 445–1933). Upon adjustment for multiple factors, rural participants (OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.97–4.01), urban non-deprived participants (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.08–2.39), females (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.23–2.23) and older adults (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02) were more likely to be categorised as low active. Overall 47.2% (n = 418) of all participants were classified within the low physical activity category. ConclusionsSignificant disparities exist in the physical activity levels of primary care populations. This has important implications for the funding and planning of physical activity interventions.