Engagement in a Community Physical Activity Program and Its Effects Upon the Health-Related Quality of Life of Elderly People: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Value in health regional issues Vol. 17; pp. 183 - 188
• Main Authors: de Lira, Claudio Andre Barbosa, Taveira, Henrique Viana, Rufo-Tavares, Weverton, Amorim, Alexandre dos Santos, Ferreira, Lucas Matos Costa, Andrade, Marilia Santos, Vancini, Rodrigo Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2018
• Subjects: aging; exercise; older people; physical activity; quality of life; exercise; older people; aging; quality of life; physical activity
• ISSN: 2212-1099; 2212-1102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2018.10.002

•Aging is related to an impairment in quality of life. Physical exercise is considered to be a nonpharmacological tool for improvement in quality of life.•Physically active elderly reported higher values on the functioning capacity and general health perceptions subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) as compared with the sedentary elderly. Conversely, scores on the following SF-36 subscales did not differ between the groups: role limitations due to physical problems, pain, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health.•Researchers and healthcare practitioners who use the SF-36 should be aware of the ceiling effect in this population. Aging is related to an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and impairments in health-related quality of life. Physical activity is a nonpharmacological intervention that is known to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases and improve quality of life. To compare the quality of life, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), of elderly participants and nonparticipants in a community physical activity program. One hundred elderly men and women (age > 60 years) who were either sedentary (sedentary [S] group; n = 50, 30 men) or physically active and attended a community physical activity program (physical activity [PA] group; n = 50, 30 men) took part in the study. All participants completed the SF-36 subscales to assess their quality of life. The PA group reported higher values on the functioning capacity and general health perceptions subscales of the SF-36 when compared with the S group. Conversely, scores on the following SF-36 subscales did not differ between the groups: role limitations due to physical problems, pain, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health. A ceiling effect was evident in both groups for all SF-36 subscales. The SF-36 subscales were not sufficiently sensitive to detect differences between the S and PA groups (except for functioning capacity and general health perceptions), probably because of ceiling effects.