DETERMINANTS OF LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG ELDERLY WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN PETALING DISTRICT, SELANGOR

N. Sankari¹, M. Halimatus¹, R. Vasudevan¹, K. Mahalingam²

¹Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Selangor, Malaysia, ²AIMST University, Physiotherapy, Kedah, Malaysia

Background: Globally, people are living longer due to medical advancement, better awareness and knowledge towards importance of healthy lifestyle. Reduction in physical activity commonly linked with increasing age, due poor health and physical tolerance and is associated with comorbidity such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounted as most burdening cause of morbidity among elderly and it is often regarded with reduction in physical activity.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the factors with leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among the elderly with T2DM in Petaling District Selangor using the Socio-ecological model.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a total of 520 elderly T2DM participants with no cognitive impairment from six health clinics within Petaling District Selangor using stratified to proportionate size sampling and simple random sampling methods have been included in this study. Data was collected through pre-tested and validated questionnaire in an unoccupied room using self-administered interviewer assisted method. Descriptive analysis conducted for all study variables and independent T-test, ANNOVA and multiple linear regression was conducted for further analysis with a significant level of <0.05 p-value and 95% CI.

Results: LTPA was dominated by the non-exercise physical activity (1.70±1.16) with cleaning house – indoor (2.39±1.64) as most frequently engaged non-exercise physical activity. Meanwhile, commonest exercise based physical activity was walking (1.49±1.70). Majority of T2DM Elderlies in Petaling district has low physical activity level (0.83±0.55) with limited engagement in exercise based physical activity. Final linear regression model resulted, Individual factors (age, sex, ethnicity, education level, presence of co-morbidities, vigorous exercise attitude), Social environment (Social network) are determinant factors for LTPA engagement.

Conclusions: The elderly population with T2DM living in Petaling district, Selangor has a very low level of LTPA, especially in EPA.

Implications: The finding from this study assist in enriching the body of knowledge related to factors contributing in determining PA among elderly with T2DM to readers, patients and researchers from same group of interest. Findings could serve as a mediator for better glyceamic control among patients and prevent T2DM associated complication and health burdens among carer. Results helps in providing good insight on designing programs, formulating health module or policies for policy makers.

Funding acknowledgements: Thanks to Health Ministry Malaysia for funding this study.

Keywords:
Leisure Time Physical Activity
Elderly
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Topics:
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Older people

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

Committee: National Medical Research Council (NMRR)

Ethics number: KKM.NIHSEC. P18-1211(6)