Higher Levels and Intensity of Physical Activity Are Associated with Reduced Mortality among Community Dwelling Older People
Table 4
Characteristics of the study participants by category of intensity of PA.
Intensity
Low 219
Medium 275
High 452
P value (r trend)
(light + <60 min/wk of moderate PA)
(>60 min/wk of moderate, no heavy PA)
(heavy PA, any amount/wk)
Median
120
188
120
Mean
228
293
188
Total duration of PA
Median
130
275
803
Age (mean)
79.89
79.34
78.77
<.000
Men (%)
37.2
49.2
47.0
.14
BMI (kg/m2)
20.8
16.8
15.6
.22
Lowest fifth (%)
LDL (mean) 1
4.63 ± 1.58
4.61 ± 1.5
4.61 ± 1.5
.93
HDL (mean) 1
.34
Systolic blood pressure2
147.06 ± 33
148.33 ± 32
149.41 ± 27
.253
Diastolic blood pressure2
73.74 ± 18
74.33 ± 19
75.43 ± 16
.079
Carstairs3 (%)
17.9, 15.8
23.4, 10.7
23.7, 5.6
.019
Single (%)
6.5
9.7
4.9
.12
Home owner (%)
55.7
63.4
72.6
<.001
Lives alone (%)
46.8
45.9
45.8
.88
Current smoker (%)
11.7
8.0
8.3
.39
Emphysema (%)
4.0
1.5
0.9
.012
Heart attack (%)
16.7
13.0
8.2
.001
Stroke (%)
13.0
6.3
4.8
<.001
Cancer4 (%)
6.4
7.1
10.1
.10
Diabetes (%)
9.8
5.4
4.7
.019
CVD5
34.7
24.3
18.5
<.001
Hip fracture (%)
2.4
2.1
1.5
.35
Recent weight loss (%)
3.0
2.4
2.4
.72
MMSE score <12/<176
4.8
1.7
0.2
<.001
GDS score >57
10.1
4.1
4.9
<.001
Unable to do >1ADL8
43.0
11.3
10.0
<.001
Medication (%)
91.5
79.8
76.9
.001
1. 2 of average of 2 readings while sitting. 3Carstairs deprivation index, quintiles 1&5. 4Excluding basal cell carcinoma. 5History of heart attack, stroke, or angina. 6MiniMental State Examination (MMSE) <12 if language section could not be completed, otherwise <17. 715 item Geriatric Depression Score (GDS). 8ADL: Activities of Daily Living.
