The association between chronic diseases and physical activity in the elderly in Birjand, Iran

Chronic diseases affect daily life activities. Naturally, as people age, their activity level drops, increasing the risk of diseases. Therefore, physical activity and aging are in a vicious cycle. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic diseases and physical activity in the elderly in Birjand, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was part of a cohort study entitled "Comprehensive Plan for the Elderly in Birjand" conducted on 1,418 participants aged 60 years and older in 2018. Before data collection, informed consent was obtained, and physical activity was measured using LASA Questionnaire. The standard medical history questionnaire assessed the participant's chronic disease history.

Out of 1,418 elderly participants, 683 (48.1%) were male, and 735 (51.8%) were female, 1,063 (74.9%) were in the age range of 60-74. Around 351 (24.8%) of the participants had diabetes, 606 (42.7%) had high blood pressure, 457 (32.2%) suffered from dyslipidemia, and 79 (5.6%) had experienced a heart attack. The results showed that 50% of the geriatrics in the current study had moderate physical activity (more than 600 minutes per week), 37% had no physical activity (less than 300 minutes per week), and 13% had little physical activity (between 300 and 600 minutes per week). Diseases such as arthritis (P=0.03), cancer (P=0.02), hypertension (P=0.001), stroke (P=0.001), myocardial infarction (P=0.04), and heart failure (P=0.03) had a significant relationship with physical activity.

As there was a relationship between chronic diseases and physical activity, the results of this study help policymakers in the field of geriatrics' health and proper planning for health and treatment services.