There are few data on the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and objectively-measured physical activity (PA) in non-Westernised populations, especially the older population. Furthermore, in light of recent accelerometer models introduced in the market which assess acceleration along three axes, we theorised that a population study using cut-points based on composite vector magnitude (VM) is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the associations between tri-axial accelerometer-determined PA and HRQoL in community-dwelling older Malay adults, using cut-points for VM. Method: The study design was cross-sectional, involving 146 community-dwelling older Malay adults aged 60 to 85 years old (59 men, 87 women) living in Seberang Perai Utara, Penang, Malaysia. PA data was collected using tri-axial accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X or GT3X+) worn around the hip during waking hours for 7 days. Intensities were categorised using cut-points for VM. HRQoL was measured using the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36®) and scored using the norm-based scoring system. Analyses included sex differences in PA variables and HRQoL and correlation (Spearman’s rho) between PA and HRQoL. Results: Significant positive association was found between moderate PA and bodily pain, but only for men (rho=0.263, p
Background: Population-based physical activity (PA) data are lacking in multicultural South East Asia. Malaysian elderly Malays, for example, are occupied daily with religious and community activities. Those living in rural areas also have a distinctively different lifestyle in terms of walking habits and leisure-time activities, compared to people from urban areas.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 146 community-dwelling Malay adults aged 60 to 85 years (mean (SD) = 67.6 (6.4) years) living in semi-rural areas in Seberang Perai Utara, Penang, Malaysia. Each participant was interviewed using a questionnaire for their socio-economic background and self-reported PA levels. Then, the participants were invited to wear an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X or GT3X+) during their waking hours for seven consecutive days.
Results: Daily activity patterns of the participants were dominated by sedentary time (7.9 (SD 2.1) hours/day; 52% of wear time) and light intensity activity (7.0 (1.9) hours/day; 46% of wear time). The participants spent 24 (SD 30) minutes daily in ‘health enhancing’ (i.e. moderatevigorous intensity) activities. Men spent significantly more time in higher intensity acti-vities than women. Average daily step count was more than 10,000 (mean = 12,542 [4,857]) steps/day.
Conclusion: Based on the accelerometer counts, these elderly Malay participants were assessed to be sedentary for most of the time during the day, though their daily step count exceeded 10,000 on average. Community-living older adults, especially women,should be encouraged to increase their physical activity levels.