6533b823fe1ef96bd127e2ec

RESEARCH PRODUCT

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND ONSET OF RESTRICTED MOBILITY OUTDOORS IN OLDER ADULTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS

subject

description

The study examines how environmental factors contribute to the onset of restricted mobility outside the home among older adults with osteoarthritis. This was a prospective cohort study of adults aged 50 years and over with osteoarthritis (N=1802). Logistic regression tested the association between the onset of restricted mobility outside the home and health, sociodemographic and perceived environmental barriers (hills and steep slopes, inaccessible public buildings, poor pavement condition, lack of access to public parks or sport facilities, heavy traffic or speeding cars, and poor weather). The potential moderating role of environmental barriers on the association between health factors and onset was examined using interaction terms and stratified analysis. Of 1802 participants, 13.5% (n=243) reported the onset of restricted mobility outside the home at three-year follow-up. Walking disability, anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and obesity, and all environmental barriers were associated with onset after adjustment for confounders. There were significant but less than multiplicative interactions between hills and steep slopes that make it difficult to move outdoors with walking disability (p=.030), anxiety (p=.037), depression (p=.002) and cognitive impairment (p=.029); poor pavement conditions and anxiety (p=.036), and heavy traffic or speeding cars and depression (p=.036). For older adults with osteoarthritis, environmental barriers have a greater role on its impact when associated morbidities and walking disability exist. Awareness of environmental barriers is important when aiming to maintain mobility and activities outside the home despite health conditions in older adults.