Association Between Physical Function and Neighborhood Environment in Healthy, Older Adults: An Exploratory Study Using Regression Tree Analysis

Masataka Ando; Naoto Kamide; Yoshitaka Shiba; Miki Sakamoto; Haruhiko Sato; Takeshi Murakami; Shuichiro Watanabe

doi:10.1177/23337214211052403

Association Between Physical Function and Neighborhood Environment in Healthy, Older Adults: An Exploratory Study Using Regression Tree Analysis

Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2021 Oct 22:7:23337214211052403. doi: 10.1177/23337214211052403. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Masataka Ando¹, Naoto Kamide^{1

2}, Yoshitaka Shiba³, Miki Sakamoto^{1

2}, Haruhiko Sato⁴, Takeshi Murakami^{1

2}, Shuichiro Watanabe⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
² Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
³ School of Health Sciences, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan.
⁵ Graduate School, J. F. Oberlin University, Machida, Japan.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perform an exploratory investigation of the individual characteristics of older adults that affect the relationships between physical function and neighborhood environment. A total of 624 community-dwelling older adults living independently, aged ≥65 years, participated in this cross-sectional study. Physical function was assessed by muscle strength (grip strength and knee extension strength) and physical performance (5-m walking time and Timed Up and Go Test). The neighborhood environment was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environmental Module. The individual characteristics that affect the association between both were analyzed using multiple regression analysis and Classification and Regression tree (CaRT) analysis. In both older men and women, multiple regression analysis showed that neighborhood environment was significantly associated with physical function. On the other hand, on CaRT analyses, older men ≤80 years of age without low back pain and depressive symptoms and perceived good access to recreational facilities had the shortest 5-m walking time. However, CaRT analyses found no relationship between physical function and neighborhood environment in older women. The relationships between physical function and neighborhood environment may be altered by sex, age, and physical and mental health conditions.

Keywords: community-dwelling; neighborhood environment; older adults; physical function; regression tree analysis.