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Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical Activity as a Mediator Between Race/Ethnicity and Changes in Multimorbidity
Jason T Newsom1, Emily C Denning1, Miriam R Elman2
1Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Oregon, USA.
Racial disparities in developing multiple chronic conditions are partly explained by differences in physical activity. Interventions promoting physical activity may reduce these health inequities in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Racial and ethnic minorities experience significant disparities in multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) and physical activity levels.
- Understanding the interplay between race/ethnicity, physical activity, and multimorbidity accumulation is crucial for addressing health inequities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if physical activity mediates racial/ethnic differences in the accumulation of multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults.
- To examine the longitudinal relationship between race/ethnicity, physical activity, and the development of multiple chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of 18,264 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2016).
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent growth curve models to assess multimorbidity accumulation.
- Mediation analysis to determine the role of physical activity in the race/ethnicity-multimorbidity relationship, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Multimorbidity significantly increased over time, with substantial individual variation.
- Physical activity significantly mediated the relationship between race/ethnicity and changes in multimorbidity.
- Non-Hispanic Black individuals reported lower physical activity than non-Hispanic Whites; no significant difference was found for Hispanic individuals after accounting for education.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity is a significant mediator in explaining racial/ethnic disparities in multimorbidity accumulation.
- Interventions targeting sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity are needed to reduce health inequities in aging populations.
- Findings highlight the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors in addressing disparities in chronic disease burden.
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