Health-related quality of life in users of a physical activity program

Abstract

Introduction: Health related quality of life (HRQL) allows to assess people health status, and to design, implement and evaluate health programs.

Objective: To determine the perception of HRQL in users of a physical activity (PA) program.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study in 177 subjects belonging to a physical activity program. SF-36v1.2 questionnaire was used to assess HRQL; maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was evaluated by the 2.000 meters test and prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors was determined from medical records.

Results: The higher average score for HRQL was in physical function (PF) 90,5 (SD: 10.8), compared with the lowest scores of body pain (BP) 78,1 (SD: 22,4) and vitality (VT) 78,1 (SD: 15,5). In smokers, hypertensive, diabetics, obese and people with low levels of physical activity most HRQL scores were lower (clinically and statistically significant differences). VO2max correlated with PF subscales (rho = 0.371; p = 0.0001), physical performance (rho = 0.177; p = 0.018) and BP (rho = 0.207; p = 0.006).

Conclusion: The studied individuals have a good perception of HRQL; nevertheless, those who reported smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia and low aerobic power, had a reduced perception of HRQL; obese people showed improved scores in mental component domains and those with low levels of PA showed low scores in that component.