Availability and use of neighborhood resources by older people with osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis

Health Place. 2016 Jan:37:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.10.006. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Abstract

This study examines the availability and use of neighborhood resources in relation to clinical lower limb osteoarthritis (LLOA) in older participants from six European countries. Of the 2757 participants (65-85 years), 22.7% had LLOA. Participants with LLOA made more use of places to sit (OR=2.50; CI: 1.36-4.60 in the UK), and less use of parks and walking areas (OR=0.30; CI: 0.12-0.75 in Sweden), compared to participants without LLOA, particularly in countries with high availability of resources. The results suggest that specific features of the environment impact the use of neighborhood resources by older adults with LLOA.

Keywords: Europe; Neighborhood environment; Older population; Osteoarthritis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis*
  • Parks, Recreational / statistics & numerical data*
  • Public Facilities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transportation