The analysis of health condition of individuals aged 40 years and older and going in for sports

The attitude to high physical loads on organism in the middle and older age groups is ambiguous, from optimistic to completely pessimistic, associated with possibility of development pathological processes because of high physical activity. The purpose of the study is to evaluate health status of people aged 40 years and older involved in sports. The health data was obtained through interviewing athletes aged 40 years and older competing in track and field events at distances of 10 kilometers or more. In total, 1800 questionnaires were distributed, and 1649 completed questionnaires were returned. The analysis of health status was implemented on the basis of self-rated health and objective characteristics (medical care appealability, acute diseases incidence, chronic diseases availability, fact of medication intake). The very high level of health self-rate was established in individuals involved in sports, that persisted along age increasing. No gender differences were revealed (4.00-4.07 for males and 3.89-4.08 for females). According to survey results, less than half of male respondents consulted physician during a year. The level of appealability was stable in all age groups surveyed. The average rate of acute diseases per year in athletes of older age groups did not exceed 1.16 diseases per year and was slightly higher in females. With age, the indicator tended to decrease in males and to increase in females. The prevalence rate of chronic diseases was low in both males and females and with age it tended to increase in males and remained almost stable in females. The rate of regular medication intake was lower than rate of chronic diseases, this difference was especially significant in females. According to respondents, sport activities, despite heavy loads and age, contribute to organism health enhancement. This opinion was specific for more than 90% of athletes, regardless of their gender. In the oldest age group (60 years and older) 94.3% of respondents expressed reported that their health improved after starting running. However, sufficient number of athletes are concerned about potential risk of training that is the reason to organize system of medical monitoring of athletes, especially in older age groups.