What Are the Characteristics Associated With Frequent Physical Exercise Among Adults With Arthritis? Results of a National Survey in the United States

OBJECTIVES: Regular physical exercise is important for people with arthritis, which is a common condition in the United States (US). Yet, the characteristics associated with frequent physical exercise are not well documented. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics associated with frequent physical exercise in US adults with arthritis.

METHODS: This cross-sectional database study used 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data, which is a national survey conducted throughout the US. US adults (age ≥18) alive and with a diagnosis of arthritis were included. The dependent variable was frequent physical exercise, defined as moderate-vigorous intensity exercise for ≥30 minutes ≥5 times weekly (response options: yes, no). A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to test the association of the following variables with the dependent variable: age, sex, Hispanic, race, census region, marriage status, schooling, employment, health insurance, household income, mental health, general health, smoking status, chronic conditions, pain, and functional limitations. The clusters and strata within the data were maintained, and data were weighted to produce national estimates using SAS software SURVEY procedures.

RESULTS: The study included 5,091 (weighted N=63,907,189) US adults with arthritis (frequent physical exercise=2,331, weighted N=29,800,467; no frequent physical exercise=2,760, weighted N=34,106,721). In the multivariable logistic regression model, male sex (vs. female; odds ratio [OR]=1.440, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.185-1.749), West census region (vs. Midwest; OR=1.433, 95% CI=1.070-1.919), employed (vs. unemployed; OR=1.277 95% CI=1.005-1.624), good general health (vs. poor; OR=2.174, 95% CI=1.673-2.824), little/moderate pain (vs. quite a bit/extreme; OR=1.418, 95% CI=1.109-1.818), and no functional limitation (vs. functional limitation; OR=1.592, 95% CI=1.282-1.980) were associated with higher odds of the person reporting they did regular physical exercise.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified variables that were associated with frequent physical exercise among US adults with arthritis. Further work is needed to develop interventions for characteristics that may help increase exercise, and subsequently health outcomes, in this population.