Physical Activity Scale For The Elderly Score Research Articles

Psychometric properties of two physical activity questionnaires, the AQuAA and the PASE, in cancer patients

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of two self-report physical activity (PA) questionnaires - the AQuAA (Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents) and PASE (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) - in cancer patients.MethodsTest-retest reliability was determined by administering the questionnaires twice within 5 days. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) were calculated. Construct validity was determined by comparing the questionnaire results with ActiGraph accelerometer scores using Spearman correlation coefficients (rs) and ICCs. Content validity was examined using the Three-Step Test-Interview (TSTI).ResultsReliability for the AQuAA scores were fair to excellent (ICC = 0.57 to 0.78). Reliability for the PASE scores ranged from good to excellent (ICC = 0.67 to 0.90). Correlations between the ActiGraph and the AQuAA and the PASE were low (rs = 0.05 and 0.16 respectively, and ICC = -0.001 to 0.44). The TSTI showed that participants experienced difficulties with the examples provided with the questions, the perceptions of intensity level of PA, and with recalling the time spent on PA.ConclusionsBoth questionnaires showed good to excellent test-retest reliability for most scores. Construct validity of both questionnaires was low, as indicated by the low correlations with the ActiGraph. Except for a few difficulties that participants perceived when filling out the questionnaires, the content validity of both questionnaires was good.

What is associated with nutrition risk in very old age?

To identify factors associated with nutrition risk among a purposive sample of those in advanced aged. A cross sectional feasibility study. Three North Island locations in New Zealand. One hundred and eight community-living residents aged 75- 85 years. Nutrition risk was assessed using a validated questionnaire, Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition, Version II (SCREEN II). A Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to determine level of physical activity. Markers of body composition, grip strength and fasting blood samples were collected. Fifty-two percent of participants were at high nutrition risk (SCREEN II score < 50; range 29-58; out of maximum score 64). The mean score for SCREEN II was higher for older people who lived with others (50.3 ± 5.1) compared to those who lived alone (46.4 ± 5.8) p=0.001. The SCREEN II score was positively correlated with the total PASE score r= 0.20 (p=0.042), grip strength r=0.20 (p=0.041), and muscle mass percentage r=0.31 (p=0.004). Lower levels of haemoglobin, serum zinc and physical activity were associated with higher nutrition risk. Half the participants were at high nutrition risk. They tended to be widowed or live alone and had lower levels of haemoglobin and serum zinc. Those at lower nutrition risk had greater muscle mass and strength, lower body fat, consumed alcohol more frequently and engaged in more physical activity. Strategies which encourage older people to eat meals and be physically active with others may assist to improve their health.

Longitudinal Physical Activity Changes in Older Men in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study

To describe the change in physical activity (total, leisure, household, occupational) in men over a mean 5-year follow-up period and to identify sociodemographic and health factors associated with change in physical activity. Prospective cohort study; Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study; data collected March 2000 through May 2006. Six U.S. clinical centers. Volunteer sample of ambulatory community-dwelling men aged 65 and older (N=5,161). Self-reported physical activity assessed at baseline and Visit 2 (V2) (5 years apart) according to the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) (unitless, relative measure of physical activity). At baseline, PASE scores averaged 16.8+/-35.5 for occupational, 37.0+/-34.0 for leisure, 95.9+/-43.2 for household, and 149.7+/-67.6 for total physical activity. Occupational (-6.2+/-33.9), leisure (-3.2+/-37.3), household (-9.9+/-44.3), and total (-19.3+/-67.7) physical activity change scores declined, on average, from baseline to V2. On average, change in total PASE scores declined more with age: -15.6+/-71.6 for men younger than 70, -16.4+/-67.0 for men aged 70 to 74, -21.4+/-66.9 for men aged 75 to 79, and -29.5+/-60.7 for men aged 80 and older. Living alone, smoking cigarettes, poor health, and higher blood pressure were associated with greater declines in physical activity over time. Although average scores declined, some older men (1,335, 26%) reported increasing physical activity levels. Better physical and mental health, living with others, and being younger were associated with the probability of increasing physical activity over time. Over the 5-year period, the majority of men reported declines in total physical activity. Older men in poor health who live alone have a high risk of physical activity declines and may be an important group to target for exercise interventions.

An Active Lifestyle Prior to Coronary Surgery Is Associated With Improved Survival in Elderly Patients

An active lifestyle is associated with a reduced cardiovascular risk in middle-aged as well as in elderly patients. In the present study, we investigated the association between physical activity habits of elderly participants prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and survival free from both all-cause and cardiac death. Study population consisted of 587 elderly patients (>or=70 years) CABG patients stratified, according to the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), into less active (low PASE) and exercised (high PASE) groups. At follow-up (mean: 44.3 +/- 21.0 months), 33 (37.1%) of 89 total deaths occurred for cardiac causes. Sixty-month survival rate was 65% and 96% for low-PASE and high-PASE groups, respectively (log rank = 49.460, p < .0001). Cox survival analysis indicated a significant (p < .0001) nonlinear association between PASE score increments and improved survival with the most evident differences in the lowest score categories. A robust association was also found between low PASE score and increased cardiac-related mortality (p < .0001). Our data indicate that a more active lifestyle is significantly associated with improved survival in elderly CABG patients. The nonlinearity of the relation suggests that more sedentary patients could have the most benefit on survival by increasing their exercise lifestyle habits. The improved outcome is explained by both cardiac and overall mortality reduction.

Physical Activity and Executive Function in Aging: The MOBILIZE Boston Study

To determine the relationship between physical activity and cognition, specifically executive function, and the possible mediating role of factors such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors, chronic pain, and depressive symptoms. Cross-sectional study. Population-based study of individuals aged 70 and older in the Boston area. Older community-dwelling adults (n=544; mean age 78, 62% female). Presence of heart disease (self-reported physician diagnosed), pain, and depressive symptomatology were assessed using interviewer-administered questions. Blood pressure was measured. Engagement in physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Cognitive function was measured using a battery of neuropsychological tests. The older adults who engaged in more physical activity had significantly better performance on all cognitive tests, except for Letter Fluency and the memory test of delayed recall, after adjusting for age, sex, education, and total number of medications. With further adjustment for CVD and CVD risk factors (heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension), pain, and depressive symptoms, PASE score remained significantly associated with executive function tests. Even after multivariate adjustment, neuropsychological tests that were executive in nature were positively associated with physical activity participation in this cohort of older community-dwelling adults. In contrast, delayed recall of episodic memory was not associated with physical activity, supporting the idea that the relationship with executive function represents a specific biologically determined relationship.

012 RISK FOR SYMPTOMATIC KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS DOES NOT VARY BY KNEE EXTENSOR STRENGTH AND KNEE JOINT POSITION SENSE

011 – Figure 1 012 RISK FOR SYMPTOMATIC KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS DOES NOT VARY BY KNEE EXTENSOR STRENGTH AND KNEE JOINT POSITION SENSE N.A. Segal1, N.A. Glass1, D. Felson2, M. Hurley3, M. Yang2, M. Nevitt4, C.E. Lewis5, J.C. Torner1 1Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; 2Boston Univ., Boston, MA; 3King’s Coll. London, London, United Kingdom; 4Univ. of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; 5Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL Purpose: Quadriceps weakness and impaired knee joint position sense (proprioception) have been linked cross-sectionally with knee OA. While neither of these factors has been independently associated with new onset disease, it is possible that one substitutes for the other and that only when both are impaired is the joint at risk. This study investigated whether sensoriomotor dysfunction the combination of quadriceps weakness and impaired knee joint position sense precedes development of symptomatic knee OA. Methods: The Multicenter Knee Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study is a longitudinal, observational study of adults age 50-79 years with knee OA or at high risk for knee OA. MOST subjects were excluded if they had symptomatic knee OA at baseline. Those with missing data or knee pain that interfered with strength testing were also excluded. Subjects underwent bilateral, weight bearing, fixedflexion radiographs, right knee joint reposition tests, and isokinetic knee extensor strength assessments; completed the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and WOMAC questionnaires; and had height, and weight measurements taken. Symptomatic knee OA was defined as the combination of knee OA (KL grade ≥2) and frequent knee pain or stiffness at follow-up. The relationship between combinations of the tertiles of sex-specific baseline peak KES and tertiles of JPS and development of incident symptomatic knee OA at 30-month follow-up was evaluated with logistic regression adjusted for age, BMI, knee injury, knee surgery, and PASE score. Secondary analyses defined joint position sense as (1) the subject-specific variance over the 10 trials and (2) the average joint position sense over the 10 trials, and also assessed the interaction of knee extensor strength and joint position sense in predicting the outcome using generalized linear models. Results: 1565 subjects (911 women and 654 men) met eligibility criteria and were included in this study. The mean±SD age was 62.1±8.0 years, BMI was 29.8±5.4kg/m2, PASE score was 182.9±88.7, and WOMAC pain subscale was 2.2±2.8. There S16 Oral Presentations was no association between the combinations of knee extensor strength and joint position sense and incident symptomatic knee OA at 30-month follow-up. Secondary analyses, also did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between the interaction of knee extensor strength and either the average joint position sense or the variance in joint position sense and the development of incident symptomatic knee OA (all p>.25). Relationship Between Tertiles of Strength-Proprioception and Incident Symp-

Measures of Physical Ability Are Unrelated to Objectively Measured Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adults Residing in Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Zalewski KR, Smith JC, Malzahn J, VanHart M, O'Connell D. Measures of physical ability are unrelated to objectively measured physical activity behavior in older adults residing in continuing care retirement communities. Objective To explore the relationship between measures of physical performance, physical activity, and self-reported physical activity. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in the greater Milwaukee area. Participants Older adults from independent or assisted living apartments (N=59). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Physical performance was measured with comfortable and fast gait speeds and the six-minute walk test. Physical activity was measured by an ankle-mounted accelerometer to observe daily steps; stepping rate was averaged over a 7-day wear time. Self-reported physical activity was measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Results Participants reported walking more steps per day than older adults who are not living in CCRCs. There was no relationship between physical abilities and total steps walked ( r=.087–.213, P>.05). No relationship was observed between measures of physical performance or total steps and PASE scores ( r=−.034–.177, P = not significant). The relative contributions of physical activity categories to total PASE score were different than published reports for older adults not living in CCRCs. Conclusions Common measures of physical performance often used by clinicians in making decisions on rehabilitation outcomes do not appear to be related to the actual functioning of older adults residing in senior communities. The nature of the environment customized to the needs of the older adult may facilitate increased physical activity participation independent of physical abilities.

Five Year Physical Activity Changes Among Older Men In The Mros Study

PURPOSE: To describe the change in self-reported physical activity (total, leisure, household, occupational) among men aged 65+ years over a 4-5 year follow-up period, and to identify socio-demographic and health factors that predict change in physical activity among older men. METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled ambulatory community dwelling men (n=5995), 65 yrs or older, at 6 US clinical centers. Using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), the men self-reported the intensity, frequency, and duration of their leisure, paid and volunteer occupational, and household activities over the past 7 days. Only men with PASE data at baseline and visit 2 were analyzed (n=5161). Linear regression models were built to examine the associations between change in total and subscale PASE scores (outcomes) and socio-demographic and health conditions measured at baseline. RESULTS: The analytic cohort was 90% Caucasian, mean age 73.1 + 5.5 yrs, median of 3 health conditions, 3% smoked, and 13% lived alone at baseline. Mean follow-up was 4.5 years. Total, leisure, occupational, and household physical activity scores declined (-19.5 + 68.0, -3.0 + 37.5, -6.3 + 34.1, -10.2 + 44.3, respectively; p<0.01). On average, total PASE scores decreased with age; -16 + 72 for <70, -16 + 67 for 70-74, -21 + 67 for 75-79, and -30 + 61 for 80+ yr olds. Declines in total physical activity were primarily attributed to occupational changes in 65-70 yr olds and household changes in 70+ yr olds. Participants exhibited a greater decline in physical activity if they lived alone (b=-12.9, SD=2.9), smoked cigarettes (b=-8.8, SD=5.6), or reported poor or very poor health (b=-17.3, SD=8.6) at baseline. Change in PASE scores was negatively associated with number of self-reported health conditions (b=-1.9, SE=0.4, p<0.01); a greater decline in PASE change scores was observed for older men with more health conditions. Significant predictors of change in PASE scores after adjusting for baseline PASE scores were living alone, age, smoking, and overall health status (p<0.01 for all). CONCLUSIONS: All domains of physical activity declined with age especially among older men who reported health conditions, lived alone or smoked. Efforts are needed to identify interventions aimed to reverse the negative physical activity trends in older men.

Fitness Responses To An Exercise Intervention Among Extreme Sedentary Elders: Turning Back The Clock

Little is known about extreme sedentary elders, i.e. little activity above necessary activities of daily living, and their potential of response to an exercise intervention. PURPOSE: We conducted a clinical trial consisting of three-months of supervised aerobic exercise where all individual activity levels increased, followed by six-months of unsupervised, home-based exercise. The current study compared the long-term fitness responses of initially extremely sedentary elders who increased and sustained activity levels at nine-months (Active), to those who returned to sedentary behavior (Sedentary). METHODS: Thirty-five sedentary [Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score=60.1+17.5] elders (age 72+6 years) completed a three-month facility-based, followed by a six-month home-based, intervention. VO2peak was measured at baseline and nine-months with a symptom-limited treadmill test. Extreme sedentary was defined at baseline and nine-months as a PASE score less than 87, which indicates activity levels necessary for community dwelling. Relationships between change in sedentary behavior, VO2peak, and age were examined using Pearson correlations. RESULTS: Approximately half (51%) were in the Sedentary group at nine-months. The Active group had a higher baseline VO2peak (19.4+3.9 ml/kg/min) compared to the Sedentary group (16.1+3.3 ml/kg/min, P<0.05). There was no relationship at baseline between VO2peak and age in either group (r∼-0.15, P>0.05). However, at follow-up the Sedentary group had significant associations between change in VO2peak and age (r=-0.69, p<0.05) and a borderline association between follow-up VO2peak and age (r=-0.39, P=0.10). These associations were not observed in the Active group, indicating an absence of the expected age-associated losses in VO2peak, in contrast to the Sedentary group. CONCLUSION: A change in extreme sedentary behavior can negate the inverse relationship between age and fitness that can quickly develop if a sedentary lifestyle is resumed. In as little as nine months there were marked differences in the relationship between VO2peak and age. Those who remained active displayed VO2peak values of younger people.

Are rural older Icelanders less physically active than those living in urban areas? A population-based study

Older people in rural areas have been labelled as physically inactive on the basis of leisure-time physical activity research. However, more research is needed to understand the total physical activity pattern in older adults, considering all domains of physical activity, including leisure, work, and domestic life. We hypothesised that: (a) total physical activity would be the same for older people in urban and rural areas; and (b) urban and rural residency, along with gender and age, would be associated with differences in domain-specific physical activities. Cross-sectional data were collected in Icelandic rural and urban communities from June through to September 2004. Participants were randomly selected, community-dwelling, 65-88 years old, and comprised 68 rural (40% females) and 118 urban (53% females) adults. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to obtain a total physical activity score and subscores in leisure, during domestic life, and at work. The total PASE score was not associated with rural vs. urban residency, but males were, in total, more physically active than females, and the 65-74-year-olds were more active than the 75-88-year-olds. In the leisure domain, rural people had lower physical activity scores than urban people. Rural males were, however, most likely of all to be physically active in the work domain. In both urban and rural areas, the majority of the physical activity behaviour occurred in relation to housework, with the rural females receiving the highest scores. Older Icelanders in rural areas should not be labelled as less physically active than those who live in urban areas. Urban vs. rural living may, however, influence the physical activity patterns among older people, even within a fairly socioeconomically and culturally homogeneous country such as Iceland. This reinforces the need to pay closer attention to the living environment when studying and developing strategies to promote physical activity.

ExStroke Pilot Trial of the effect of repeated instructions to improve physical activity after ischaemic stroke: a multinational randomised controlled clinical trial

Objectives To investigate if repeated verbal instructions about physical activity to patients with ischaemic stroke could increase long term physical activity.Design Multicentre, multinational, randomised clinical trial with masked outcome assessment.Setting...

Validity and reliability of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in Japanese elderly people

In Japan, there are no valid and reliable physical activity questionnaires for elderly people. In this study, we translated the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) into Japanese and assessed its validity and reliability. Three hundred and twenty-five healthy and elderly subjects over 65 years were enrolled. Concurrent validity was evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between PASE scores and an accelerometer (waking steps and energy expenditure), a physical activity questionnaire for adults in general (the Japan Arteriosclerosis Longitudinal Study Physical Activity Questionnaire, JALSPAQ), grip strength, mid-thigh muscle area per bodyweight, static valance and bodyfat percentage. Reliability was evaluated by the test-retest method over a period of 3-4 weeks. The mean PASE score in this study was 114.9. The PASE score was significantly correlated with walking steps (rho = 0.17, P = 0.014), energy expenditure (rho = 0.16, P = 0.024), activity measured with the JALSPAQ (rho = 0.48, P < 0.001), mid-thigh muscle area per bodyweight (rho = 0.15, P = 0.006) and static balance (rho = 0.19, P = 0.001). The proportion of consistency in the response between the first and second surveys was adequately high. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the PASE score was 0.65. The Japanese version of PASE was shown to have acceptable validity and reliability. The PASE is useful to measure the physical activity of elderly people in Japan.

Pedometer counts superior to physical activity scale for identifying health markers in older adults

ObjectiveMeasuring physical activity is a key part of studying its health effects. Questionnaires and pedometers each have weaknesses but are the cheapest and easiest to use measurement methods for large-scale...

Construct Validation of Physical Activity Surveys in Culturally Diverse Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to establish validity evidence of four physical activity (PA) questionnaires in culturally diverse older adults by comparing self-report PA with performance-based physical function. Participants were 54 older adults who completed the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance 10-item Test (CS-PFP10), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), CHAMPS Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults, Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS), and modified Baecke questionnaire. The total PASE score, three outcome scores for the CHAMPS, and three summary indices for the YPAS were significantly correlated with total CS-PFP10 score. The modified Baecke exhibited no correlations with CS-PFP10 scores. The PASE, CHAMPS, and YPAS appear to be the most valid PA self-report questionnaires for culturally diverse older adults.

Self-reported physical activity after ischemic stroke correlates with physical capacity

Little is known about stroke survivors’ level of physical activity or if physical activity plays a role in preventing recurrent stroke. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is a valid measure of self-reported level of physical activity in the previous 1-week period reflecting physical activity in older adults, but has not yet been evaluated for use in stroke survivors. The aim was to examine the correlation between self-reported physical activity as measured by PASE and physical capacity as measured by the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) in persons after an ischemic stroke. A consecutive sample of 49 participants ≥40 years of age suffering from mild stroke were included 3–12 months after stroke onset. PASE was administered by interviewing the participants and a trained physiotherapist blinded for the PASE score tested them with the seven items of the SFT. Correlations between PASE score and those items in the SFT that required strength, endurance and balance were moderate between 0.37 (p=0.03) and 0.50 (p=0.0005) for the total group. There was no correlation between PASE score and flexibility items. The findings indicate that PASE reflects overall physical capacity to perform everyday activities that require strength, aerobe endurance and balance in persons suffering from mild stroke.

The ExStroke Pilot Trial: Rationale, design, and baseline data of a randomized multicenter trial comparing physical training versus usual care after an ischemic stroke

Introduction A high level of physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of first stroke and physical activity modifies recognized stroke risk factors and is recommended for stroke survivors. Available research shows that stroke patients can increase their level of physical performance over a short period. When the intervention period is over, physical performance often declines towards baseline level. Currently, there is no evidence on the association between physical activity and the risk of recurrent stroke. The ExStroke Pilot Trial is a randomized clinical trial with the aim of increasing stroke patients' level of physical activity and secondarily to associate the level of physical activity to the risk of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality in the two groups. We describe the rationale, design, and baseline data of the ExStroke Pilot Trial. Methods Patients with ischemic stroke above 39 years were randomized to intervention or control group. The intervention group will, over a 2-year period, receive information on and verbal instruction to exercise by a physiotherapist or a physician. The control group will receive the department's usual care. Physical activity is assessed in both groups seven times during follow-up using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire, which quantifies the amount of physical activity done in the last seven days prior to interview. The PASE score constitutes the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome is the time from randomization to recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause mortality. Further outcome measures include: time from randomization to recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death; recurrent stroke; modified Rankin Scale; quality of life; occurrence of falls and fractures. Trial status From 9 centers in 4 countries, 314 patients were included and follow-up is ongoing. Mean age and standard deviation (SD) of the study participants was 68.4 (11.9) years and 56.4% were male. Mean (SD) PASE score was 84.1 (55.9) and median (interquartile range) Scandinavian Stroke Scale score was 54 (51–58).

An active lifestyle improves outcome of primary angioplasty in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

Regular physical activity has been shown to improve outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the positive role of an active lifestyle on cardiac prognosis extends to elderly patients with AMI who undergo primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We prospectively studied 180 patients with AMI aged > or = 70 years and treated with primary PTCA. In all patients, physical activity levels before AMI were quantified by a score derived from the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Cardiac deaths and nonfatal cardiac events were evaluated within 30 days and 1-year from primary PTCA. A high PASE score was significantly associated with a strong reduction of 30-day cardiac deaths (from 23.1% to 4%; P for trend = .021) and overall nonfatal events (from 21.1% to 10%; P for trend = .01). Accordingly, at 1 year of follow-up, the incidence of cardiac mortality and nonfatal events significantly decreased with increasing PASE score (from 28.8% to 8% and from 55.7% to 14.5%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that physical activity before AMI was an independent predictor of increased survival in those patients that showed the highest PASE scores. In addition, at 6 months of follow-up, although low ejection fraction and recurrent angina strongly predicted 1-year mortality, high PASE scores still predicted a better outcome. Our data indicate that an active lifestyle may favorably affect early and late outcomes of primary PTCA in the elderly population.

Level of Physical Activity in the Week Preceding an Ischemic Stroke

Background: Most observational studies investigating physical activity as a risk factor for stroke have concentrated on the years preceding a stroke event. In the present case control study we compared the reported level of physical activity performed during the week preceding an ischemic stroke with that of community controls. Furthermore we calculated the odds ratio for stroke based on the level of physical activity. Subjects and Methods: Patients with an ischemic stroke were recruited consecutively from hospitals covering Copenhagen City. Community controls were recruited among participants of the Copenhagen City Heart Study and matched according to age and gender. The level of physical activity was assessed using The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), which quantifies the amount of physical activity done in the last 7 days. Results: A total of 127 cases and 301 control subjects were included in the study. Mean (±SD) PASE scores for cases were 76.0 ± 46.2 and 119.7 ± 69.4 for controls (p < 0.001). For each 1-point increase in PASE score the odds ratio for ischemic stroke was 0.98 (0.98–0.99), equivalent to an odds ratio of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82–0.90) for each 10-point increase. Conclusion: Stroke patients are less physically active in the week preceding an ischemic stroke when compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Increasing PASE score was inversely, log-linearly and significantly associated with odds ratio for ischemic stroke.

Reliability of the PASE (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) in older Greek adults

PURPOSE: The determination of physical activity levels in the elderly is very important. Reliable instruments assessing physical activity are widely used in epidemiological large sample studies. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is a brief and easily scored questionnaire that assess physical activity of people aged 65 year and over. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the self-report questionnaire Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly conditions (Washburn et al., 1999) in community dwelling Greek older adults without any serious health. METHODS: A sample of 40 participants who volunteered to participate in this study (20 men and 20 women, mean age:74.4 sd:5.2 years) completed twice within a period of 3 weeks the PASE questionnaire which assess their physical activity over the past 7-days. PASE scores were computed following the standard procedure proposed by the authors which includes multiplying “activity weights” by activity frequencies. RESULTS: Test- retest reliability of PASE was r =.82, p<.01. The pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used in this study in order to assess reliability of the repeated measurements CONCLUSIONS: The modified PASE questionnaire can be indicated as a reliable and safe self report instrument of evaluating physical activity in community dwelling Greek older adults.

Profile of Physical Activity Levels in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

To examine relationships between selected sociodemographic, health-related and environmental factors and levels of physical activity in older adults across three age groups. Seven hundred sixty-four older adults (mean age = 77.4 +/- 8.6 yr) from a midsize Canadian city completed a self-administered questionnaire under researcher supervision. Level of physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Correlates of physical activity were examined using previously validated questionnaires. The findings pertaining to personal and environmental factors are presented. Overall, significantly higher mean PASE scores were seen in those individuals in the following categories: male (P < 0.001), married or common-law (P < 0.001), not living alone (P < 0.001), not living in senior's housing (P < 0.001), higher levels of education (P < 0.001) and higher incomes (P < 0.001). Better physical health showed significant positive associations (P < 0.001) with PASE score. Individuals reporting at least four or more chronic health conditions had significantly lower PASE scores than those reporting no chronic conditions (P < 0.001). Significantly lower PASE scores were also reported in those using domestic services (P < 0.001). Higher PASE scores were related to the presence of hills, biking and walking trails, street lights, various recreation facilities, seeing others active and unattended dogs (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05). An understanding of the factors that influence physical activity behavior in older adults is critical to developing effective intervention strategies that will address the problem of physical inactivity in this population, and in doing so, improve the health status and quality of life of the older adult, while having a significant impact on healthcare expenditures.