Impact of physical activity on hospitalization in older adults: A nationwide cohort from Taiwan

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of baseline physical activity on hospitalization over one year in a representative sample of older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a prospective study of persons aged 65 and above (N = 2064) participating in the National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan, 2001. A total of 1521 participants had complete data on physical activity and were successfully linked to 2002 National Health Insurance claims data. Participants reporting physical activity of ≥1000 kcal per week had a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, fewer admissions, and fewer hospital bed days compared with inactive individuals. However, the strength of these associations was substantially reduced after adjustment for number of chronic diseases, activities of daily living (ADL) limitation and self-rated health. A possible effect of physical activity between 500 and 999 kcal per week on reducing hospitalization was also demonstrated. Moreover, this association was not altered by adjustment for other health factors.