The Relationship of Physical Activity With Quality of Life and Perceived Health in Adults With Coronary Heart Disease

Background: People living with coronary heart disease (CHD) experience a decline in physical and social functioning as well as an increase in depressive symptoms, thereby diminishing their perceived health and quality of life (QoL). Evidence shows that physical activity in the adult population is associated with improved QoL and better-perceived health. Objective: The objective of our study is to describe the association between physical activity and perceived health and QoL among older adults with long-standing CHD (>20 years). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 20-year follow-up survey data were collected from 126 survivors from the Heart and Soul prospective cohort study. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to identify unadjusted and adjusted variables. Nested logistic regression models were used to identify significant variables associated with perceived health and QoL with a 4-level model. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 80.9 ± 9.1 years; 71.8% (n = 94) were males, less than half were physically active (47.3%, n = 62), and 23.7% were living with heart failure. There was a positive association between being physically active and perceived health after adjusting for socioeconomic status, physical activity, and activities of daily living (adjusted OR = 2.316, P = .023). The association between physical activity and these adjusted variables with QoL was also strong (adjusted OR = 2.070, P = .046). The diagnosis of heart failure was associated with lower QoL after adjustments ( P < .033). Conclusions: Older adults with long-term CHD who engage in physical activity have higher QoL and perceived health, which are critical patient-reported outcomes. Heart failure and low income were related to lower QoL and were not improved by physical activity.