Former Athletes’ Health-Related Lifestyle Behaviours and Self-Rated Health in Late Adulthood

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between self-rated health (SRH), physical activity and other lifestyle habits among former athletes and referents in late adulthood. Male athletes (N=514) who represented Finland from 1920 through 1965 and referents (N=368) who were classified healthy at the age of 20 years participated in this population-based cohort study. The present analysis was based on a questionnaire study in 2001. SRH was assessed by a single question. Univariate binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations of health-related behaviours with SRH. The majority of former athletes (64%) rated their health better than referents (48%). A higher percentage of the athletes (54%) compared to the referents (44%) belonged to the most physically active groups (MET quintiles IV-V). A high percentage of the athletes (77%) and referents (79%) were occasional or moderate alcohol users. The proportion of never smokers among athletes was 59% and among referents 37%. Among current smokers there were no differences in nicotine dependence between athletes and referents (p=0.07). In the univariate analysis the odds of reporting good SRH was 2 times higher for athletes (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.53-2.64, p<0.001) than for referents. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, former participation in team and power athletic groups had significantly higher SRH than the referents even after adjusting for age, level of physical activity, alcohol and smoking habit, and occupation. People who participated in very active physical exercise in their youth, as indexed by participation in competitive sports by elite athletes, continue a physically active lifestyle, and maintained healthier lifestyle. They had significantly higher SRH than the referents in their senior years, which was not totally explained by their physically active and healthier lifestyles.