Yearlong Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Japanese Adults: The Nakanojo Study

Abstract

We hypothesized that the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) would be poorer in physically inactive older adults. This was tested in a sample of 73 male and 108 female free-living healthy Japanese participants, age 65–85 years. We measured accelerometer step counts and their metabolic equivalents (METs) throughout each 24-hr period for 1 year. At the end of the year, HRQOL was assessed. Physical activity was grouped into quartiles. HRQOL was poorer in the lowest quartiles of participants with respect to both step count and duration of activity >3 METs; however, our sample showed no better HRQOL in those participants exceeding minimum standards of daily physical activity, corresponding to counts of around 5,500 and 4,500 steps/day and durations of around 13 and 14 min/day in men and women, respectively. Causation cannot be demonstrated from this cross-sectional study, but nevertheless we suggest that elderly individuals should be encouraged to meet such standards of habitual physical activity.

Untitled

“…It should be noted elderly female have more health complaints and lower life quality indicators. Such tendencies have worldwide character and similar results identified in Japan, Brazil, USA and Canada [1,10,11,13]. Women are more often diagnosed with different disorders.…”

“…Life quality according same scale was critical (Emotional Role Functioning, General Health, Bodily Pain). The graph shows the survey results of female from Iran (age -65-69 years) [17], China (age >60 years) [14], Japan (age 65 years) [1], Brazil (age -60-69 years) [11], USA (age -78 years) [13], Canada (age -65-74 years) [10], South Australia (age -65-74 years) [6], Poland (age -45-65 years) [19], Ukraine (own data).…”

“…It is the cause of weight gain, development of osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, depression, cancer [1,10,11]. Among the positive effects of physical trainings are not only diseases prevention but also improving of cognitive functioning, autonomy, anxiety reducing and formation of new social networks that provide the high levels of social support.…”

Associação entre atividade física e qualidade de vida em adultos

“…To be continued 54 The level of PA was stratifi ed into quartiles (1 = least active, 4 = most active) according to the intensity level of PA 3 METs.…”

Factors Related to Participation in an Exercise Program for Nursing Home Residents

“…Several authors have pointed out the importance of QOL of the elderly (Asai et al, 2001;Maeda et al, 2002;Yasunaga and Aoyagi 2006). Arao et al (1998) have demonstrated that QOL is related to living fitness and physical functioning necessary for self-independent life.…”