Impact of physical activity, central obesity and depression on the quality of life according to the presence of cardiovascular risk among menopausal middle-aged women: Secondary data analysis

Abstract

Purpose This study was a secondary data analysis using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2014. The purpose of the study was to identify and compare the impacts of Physical Activity (PA), central obesity and depression on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study sample was postmenopausal women aged 45~65 years of aged with or without cardiovascular risk factors. Specifically, the sample consisted of 472 women who had cardiovascular risk factors (risk group) and 374 women with no reported risk factors (no risk group).

Methods The degree of PA (MET-min/week) was estimated based on the International PA Questionnaire and depression was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

Results The scores from the PA were lower than the recommended PA scores among both groups, and muscle strengthening was significantly lower within the risk group compared to those in the no risk group (p<.001). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that depression, PA and WHtR accounted for 32.8% of the HRQoL in the risk group (R2=.328, F=64.49, p<.001), while depression and WHtR accounted for 28.5% of the HRQoL in the no risk group (R2=.256, F=35.18, p<.001).

Conclusion It is essential to correct low PA, central obesity, and depression in order to improve the HRQoL of middle-aged women with cardiovascular risk factors. For those who have cardiovascular risk factors, the PA intervention program including muscle strengthening exercise might be needed.