Question: What baseline characteristics predict good or poor quality of life among community-dwelling seniors undertaking a three-month progressive resistance exercise program?
Design: A prospective cohort observational study.
Participants: 63 Japanese men and women over 65 years with mild disability.
Outcome measures: Health-related quality of life was measured using the Short Form 36. Predictors included age, sex, body mass index, presence of chronic diseases, frequency of exercise, number of falls, and activity limitations measured before undertaking the exercise program.
Results: The presence of diabetes negatively predicted a good outcome (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.88) and positively predicted a poor outcome (OR 4.40, 95% CI 1.21 to 18.86) when adjusted for age, sex and body mass index. The accuracy of the prediction of a good outcome was 1.25 (LR+) and 0.44 (LR-). The accuracy of the prediction of a poor outcome was 7.15 (LR+) and 0.87 (LR-).
Conclusion: The quality of life improved in a community-dwelling elderly population with mild disability who undertook a three-month group-based progressive resistance exercise program. However, those with diabetes mellitus were more likely to experience decreased quality of life. Therefore, health care providers need to monitor carefully participants with this disease who are undertaking progressive resistance exercise.