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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Pamela A. Semanik, RN MS, College of Nursing/ Dept of Public Health Nursing, University of Illinois, 845 South Damen, Mail Code 802, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-238-3220, pseman1@uic.edu, JoEllen Wilbur, PhD, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, and James M. Sinacore, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, 1919 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease most prevalent in women over the age of 60. One safe, efficacious and widely advocated method of controlling disease consequences and improving quality of life for those with RA is increasing levels of physical activity, but women in this age group are the least likely to be physically active. The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to identify the physical activity behaviors (leisure, household) of women (> 60 yrs) with RA. Subjects included 185 cognitively intact, ambulatory women drawn from the caseloads of eight rheumatologists practicing in an urban university medical center. Methods: Following an introductory letter participants were contacted to determine eligibility and interest. Participants chose a time and location for administration of the survey questionnaire. Independent variables included: demographics, years since RA diagnosis, and co-morbidities. The dependent variable, physical activity, was assessed with the Yale Physical Activity Survey for Older Adults. Results: Participants had a mean age of 70 years, with a mean disease duration of 17.7 yrs. Only 60% reported any type of vigorous activity in the past month, but 88 % reported leisure walking. Housework comprised 67% of all activity, with 15% on leisure activities, and 10% on planned exercise. Conclusion: Older women with RA are probably more active than previously assumed, but may benefit from interventions that increase the proportion of vigorous activity incorporated into daily routines.
Learning Objectives: As a result of learner participation in this presentation, the learner will be able to
Keywords: Physical Activity, Elderly
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.