Sociodemographic pattern of physical activity in the Northwest of Iran: Results of the pilot phase of the azar cohort study

• Published in: International journal of preventive medicine Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 154
• Main Authors: Mirzaei, Maryam, Dastgiri, Saeed, Aminisani, Nayyereh, Asghari-Jafarabadi, Mohammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; Cohort analysis; cohort study; Demographic aspects; Exercise; Gender; iran; Marital status; Mortality; Multivariate analysis; Original; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Population; Population studies; Questionnaires; Sociodemographics; Studies; Surveys; Variables; Womens health; Iran; Iran; Cohort study; physical activity
• ISSN: 2008-7802; 2008-8213
• DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_472_17

Background: Sedentary lifestyle plays a key role in the emergence of many noncommunicable diseases. Given the importance of physical activity (PA) in population-based studies, the present study was conducted to investigate the pattern of PA and its correlates in the pilot phase of Azar cohort study. Methods: In the pilot phase of Azar cohort study, 1236 individuals aged 35-70 years in Khameneh, a city in East Azarbaijan, Iran, were invited to participate in the study. A total of 952 individuals completed the overall and the PA questionnaire, a response rate of 82%. The PA level was evaluated using the classified PA questionnaire based on the equivalent metabolic activities. The general linear model was used to determine the factors affecting PA. Results: The overall mean score of PA was 36.54 (standard deviation = 5.3). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for sociodemographic variables, total PA score was associated with gender (adjusted β = 0.014, confidence interval [CI] 95% = [0.01-0.82]), occupation (adjusted βs ranged over 0.015-0.059, (CI 95% = 0.01-0.079), level of education (adjusted βs ranged over 0.010-0.018, CI 95% = 0.001-0.026). In other word, sex (mean ranged over 35.49-36.81), educational level (mean ranged over 35.01-36.73) and occupation status (mean ranged over 34.62-39.62) were predictors of PA (all P < 0.05). This variable could also predict 20% of the variance of the PA. Conclusions: The current study identifies that gender, occupation and level of education could be factors that influence on PA level in the study population.