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Physical activity types and health-related quality of life among middle-aged and elderly adults: The Rotterdam Study

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

Physical activity (PA) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL). The specific PA types that provide beneficial effects in an older population remain unclear. We assessed the association of total PA, walking, cycling, domestic work, sports and gardening with HRQL in middle-aged and elderly adults.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Participants

5,554 participants, with a mean age of 69 years.

Measurements

Total PA was categorized in five groups to evaluate the dose-response effect of PA and specific PA types were categorized in tertiles. HRQL was measured with the EuroQoL 5-dimension. The outcome of every HRQL domain (i.e. mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain and mood) was expressed as having any problems versus not having problems. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used, adjusting for confounders, to examine associations of total PA and PA types with HRQL domains.

Results

In both middle-aged (<65 years) and elderly adults (>65 years), we found a dose-response association between total PA and better HRQL (i.e. lower odds of having problems in HRQL domains). In the middle-aged, sports was the only PA type associated with lower odds of having problems with all HRQL domains. In the elderly, all PA types were associated with less problems with HRQL domains, but cycling contributed most to the beneficial effect.

Conclusions

Total PA was associated with better HRQL. Sports and cycling were the activity types that contributed most to this association in the middle-aged and elderly, respectively. Since PA levels tend to decline with aging, cycling and sports should be promoted with the aim to improve HRQL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Chantal M. Koolhaas, K. Dhana, F. J. A. van Rooij, J. D. Schoufour, A. Hofman & O. H. Franco

  2. Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    K. Dhana & A. Hofman

  3. Department of Epidemiology - Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Chantal M. Koolhaas

Authors
  1. Chantal M. Koolhaas
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  2. K. Dhana
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  3. F. J. A. van Rooij
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  4. J. D. Schoufour
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  5. A. Hofman
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  6. O. H. Franco
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Correspondence to Chantal M. Koolhaas.

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Koolhaas, C.M., Dhana, K., van Rooij, F.J.A. et al. Physical activity types and health-related quality of life among middle-aged and elderly adults: The Rotterdam Study. J Nutr Health Aging 22, 246–253 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0902-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0902-7

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