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Gender differences in the association between physical activity and health-related quality of life among community-dwelling elders

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Abstract

Background

Physical activity can improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults. However, the differential effects of gender on quality of life are unclear. Aims: To determine the association between physical activity and HRQoL in men and women.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to August 2011. Community-dwelling older people aged 65 years or older were eligible. Physical activity in kcal per week was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)—Taiwan version. HRQoL was measured with the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Cognitive function and depression were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The relationship between physical activity and HRQoL in men and women was investigated by a multiple linear regression model.

Results

A total of 188 older people (M: 50.5%) participated in this study. The mean ages of men and women were 71.9 ± 5.3 and 77.1 ± 6.4 years, respectively (p < 0.001). Older women had higher physical activity levels than men (4786.1 ± 1065.6 vs 4422.2 ± 1114.3 kcal/week, p = 0.023). After adjusting for covariates, multiple linear regression analysis showed that older men with higher physical activity levels had better scores on both the physical component summary (PCS) (p = 0.031) and mental component summary (MCS) (p = 0.007) than men with lower levels. Furthermore, older men with higher moderate-vigorous physical activity levels had better scores on the PCS than older men with lower activity levels, and older men with higher walking physical activity levels had better scores on the MCS than older men with lower activity levels.

Conclusions

In this study, older women were more physically active than older men. However, older men (but not older women) with higher physical activity had better HRQoL. The association between physical activity and HRQoL differed between men and women.

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Funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Yi-Hsueh Liao

  2. School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Yi-Hsueh Liao

  3. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Yi-Hsueh Liao, Tung-Wei Kao, Tao-Chun Peng & Yaw-Wen Chang

  4. School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Yi-Hsueh Liao, Tung-Wei Kao, Tao-Chun Peng & Yaw-Wen Chang

  5. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Number 325, Section 2, Chang-Gong Rd, Nei-Hu District, 114, Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Yaw-Wen Chang

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  1. Yi-Hsueh Liao
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  2. Tung-Wei Kao
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  3. Tao-Chun Peng
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Contributions

Yi-Hsueh Liao contributed to the design of the study, was responsible for the management and retrieval of data, contributed to the initial data analysis and interpretation, and drafted the initial manuscript. Yi-Hsueh Liao, Tung-Wei Kao, Tao-Chun Peng and Yaw-Wen Chang determined the data collection methods. Yi-Hsueh Liao, Tao-Chun Peng and Yaw-Wen Chang were also responsible for the data analysis decisions. Yaw-Wen Chang conceptualized and designed the study, supervised all aspects of the study, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. All authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaw-Wen Chang.

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The author(s) declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGHIRB 099-05-047) in accordance with the revised Helsinki Declaration.

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The ethical committee approved the protocol.

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All participants provided written informed consent.

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Liao, YH., Kao, TW., Peng, TC. et al. Gender differences in the association between physical activity and health-related quality of life among community-dwelling elders. Aging Clin Exp Res 33, 901–908 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01597-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01597-x

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