Prevalence and correlates of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015

Chan YY 1 , Sooryanarayana R 2 , Mohamad Kasim N 3 , Lim KK 4 , Cheong SM 5 , Kee CC 6 Show all authors , Lim KH 7 , Omar MA 8 , Ahmad NA 9 , Mohd Hairi NN 10

Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: chan.yy@moh.gov.my
  • 2 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: drrajini@moh.gov.my
  • 3 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: noraida_kasim@moh.gov.my
  • 4 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: limkk@moh.gov.my
  • 5 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: smcheong@moh.gov.my
  • 6 Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: kee@imr.gov.my
  • 7 Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: limkh@imr.gov.my
  • 8 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: drazahadi@moh.gov.my
  • 9 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: drnoorani@moh.gov.my
  • 10 Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: noran@um.edu.my
Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2018 11 26;81:74-83.
PMID: 30521992 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2018.11.012

Abstract

Malaysia has an increasingly aging population. Despite the substantial benefits of physical activity for healthy aging, older adults are considered the most physically inactive segment of the Malaysian population. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia and its correlates. We analysed data on adults aged ≥60 years (n = 3790) from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, a cross-sectional, nationwide population-based survey covering information on socio-demographic characteristics, physical activity and other lifestyle-related variables, health conditions, and functional limitations. Individuals included in this study were classified as physically active or physically inactive. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with physical inactivity. The overall prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults aged ≥60 years old was 48.8%. Physical inactivity was significantly more prevalent among females, older age groups, Indians, those being single/widowed/divorced, those with no formal education, those who reported high sedentary time (≥7 h/day), those with diabetes, anaemia, and functional limitations (p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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