Table 1

Self-rated ‘relative activity’* relates to health predictors (age>50)

VariableCorrelation coefficientp ValueRegression coefficient (SE), age adjustedp ValueAge relation, sign and p value
Times/week exercise at least 20 mins0.42<0.00011.2 (0.092)<0.001(−) 0.024
CES-D (0–52)−0.21<0.0001−1.3 (0.23)<0.001NS
Depressed (0–10)−0.130.0083−0.21 (0.086)0.017NS
Energy (0–10)0.21<0.00010.34 (0.064)<0.001(+) 0.031
Sleep problems (0–10)−0.0840.028−0.21 (0.095)0.024NS
Sleep quality (0–30)0.0780.0360.35 (0.21)0.092(+) 0.018
Tired (0–10)−0.29<0.0001−0.72 (0.13)<0.001(+) 0.001
Muscle weakness (0–10)−0.14<0.0002−0.29 (0.070)<0.001(+) 0.005
Fatigue with exertion (0–10)−0.26<0.0001−0.61 (0.12)<0.001(+) 0.002
Health (0–10)0.20<0.00010.31 (0.061)<0.001(+) 0.071
Satisfaction with health (0–100)0.30<0.00015.6 (0.69)<0.001NS
Glucose (mg/dl) ‡−0.0730.049−0.73 (0.31)0.019(+) 0.014
HDL (mg/dl)0.100.00631.2 (0.53)0.028(+) 0.001
Triglycerides (mg/dl)−0.17<0.0001−10 (2.3)<0.001NS
Body mass index−0.26<0.0001−0.97 (0.15)<0.001(−) 0.002
Waist (cm)−0.23<0.0001−3.9 (0.63)<0.001NS
Platelets−0.0730.051−2.7 (1.7)0.11(−) 0.043
White cell count−0.0830.027−0.13 (0.050)0.012(+) 0.058
  • *Level of activity ‘compared to other persons your age’ measured on a 5-point Likert scale: 1=much less active, 2=somewhat less active, 3=about as active, 4=somewhat more active, 5=much more active.

  • †Regression examines relative activity level relation to health predictor, among those age >50, with age as an adjusted covariate in the regressions.

  • (The column to the far right gives the sign of the coefficient for the age variable, and its significance.)

  • ‡Note: patients with diabetes or measured glucose over 142 were excluded. This finding is thus despite range restriction.

  • Note that in these study participants, there is a ‘paradoxically’ favourable age association for some variables that generally worsen with rising age, including energy, sleep quality, health and HDL-cholesterol.

  • CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale; HDL, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; NS, non-significant.