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 < .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.