Psychosocial predictors of physical activity in older aged asthmatics.

BACKGROUND there is little information available on physical activity (PA) patterns and the psychosocial determinants of PA in older adults with asthma. OBJECTIVE to quantify the prevalence of PA in older asthmatics and to explore the potential psychosocial determinants of PA in this population. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING cross-sectional data available from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), cycle 2.1, were used. There was a total of 1,772 older asthmatics in the sample. RESULTS there were significant differences in the prevalence of PA between older asthmatic females compared to middle-aged asthmatic females (chi(2) = 23.65, P < 0.0001) and older asthmatics compared to older non-asthmatics (chi(2) = 38.1, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression revealed a significant association between PA and perceived health in older asthmatic males (OR = 5.39, CI = 1.36-21.33) and females (OR = 4.81, CI = 1.41-16.38). Being a member of a volunteer organisation was also significantly associated with PA in older asthmatic females (OR = 1.59, CI = 1.11-2.30). CONCLUSION older asthmatics were less active than their non-asthmatic peers. Perceived health was an important predictor of PA in both older asthmatic males and females. Exercise interventions in this population should make an effort to improve self-perceived health.