Changes In Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Adults With And Without Arthritis-attributable Activity Limitations, 2004-2018

One in five US adults has arthritis. Other data show 43.9% of adults with arthritis (AWA) report arthritis-attributable activity limitations. AWA are less active than adults without arthritis. Furthermore, increases in prevalence of AWA who met aerobic guidelines during 2001-2018 were smaller than among adults without arthritis (8.1% and 11.2%, respectively). No analysis has examined changes in meeting aerobic and strength training guidelines, stratified by arthritis-attributable activity limitation. PURPOSE: Examine change in prevalence of meeting aerobic and strength training guidelines for adults without arthritis (AR-), adults with arthritis and no activity limitations (AR + AL-), and adults with arthritis and activity limitations (AR + AL+). METHODS: Using National Health Interview survey data, age-standardized prevalence of meeting guidelines was estimated in 3-yr intervals. Arthritis, activity limitation, and physical activity items were available annually 2004-2018. Time trends were assessed with orthogonal polynomial contrasts; group differences in change over time were assessed with t-tests. RESULTS: Prevalence of meeting aerobic guidelines increased from 2004-2006 to 2016-2018 for AR- (42.3% to 55.4%; Δ = 13.2%; p < .001), AR + AL- (46.3% to 55.8%; Δ = 9.5%; p < .001), and AR + AL+ (30.3% to 39.4%; Δ = 9.1%; p < .001). Changes in meeting aerobic guidelines were significantly different when comparing AR- to AR + AL- (p = .01), and AR- to AR + AL+ (p = .03), but not AR + AL- to AR + AL+ (p = 0.85). Prevalence of meeting strength training guidelines increased for AR- (19.8% to 27.7%; Δ = 8.0%; p < .001) and AR + AL- (22.4% to 27.6%; Δ = 5.1%; p < .001), but not for AR + AL+ (16.7% to 18.1%; Δ = 1.5%; p = .42). Changes in meeting strength training guidelines were significantly different for AR- and AR + AL- (p = .04), and AR- and AR + AL+ (p < .001), but not for AR + AL- and AR + AL+ (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: To close the relative gaps in meeting guidelines identified in this study, multisectoral partnerships (e.g., public health agencies, worksites, recreation organizations, transportation, senior centers, health care systems) can be leveraged to increase awareness, access, and adoption of evidence-based physical activity programs for adults with or at risk for arthritis-attributable activity limitations.