BMC Public Health | 2021
The effects of race/ethnicity and physician recommendation for physical activity on physical activity levels and arthritis symptoms among adults with arthritis
Abstract
Background Among U.S. adults with physician-diagnosed arthritis, we examined the association of 1) participant race/ethnicity with meeting physical activity guidelines and arthritis symptoms, and 2) the association of receipt of a physician exercise recommendation with physical activity levels and arthritis symptoms, and whether race/ethnicity moderates these associations. Methods Retrospective, cross-sectional study of National Health Interview Survey pooled data from 2002, 2006, 2009, and 2014 from 27,887\u2009U.S. adults aged ≥18\u2009years with arthritis. Outcomes were meeting aerobic (yes/no) and strengthening guidelines (yes/no), arthritis-associated activity limitations (yes/no) and arthritis-related pain (0–10; higher score\u2009=\u2009more pain). Predictors were race/ethnicity (White, African American, Latino, and Asian) and receipt of physician recommendation for exercise (yes/no). Covariates included demographic and health characteristics. Results Adjusting for covariates, African Americans were more likely (AOR\u2009=\u20091.27; 95% CI 1.12, 1.43) and Asians were less likely (AOR\u2009=\u20090.75; 95% CI 0.61, 0.92) than Whites to meet muscle strengthening activity guidelines. Compared to Whites, African Americans (B\u2009=\u20090.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.72) and Latinos (B\u2009=\u20090.44; 95% CI 0.15, 0.72) reported more severe, while Asians reported less severe (B\u2009=\u2009-0.68; 95% CI -1.22, −\u20090.14) joint pain. Controlling for covariates, physician exercise recommendation was associated with meeting aerobic (AOR\u2009=\u20091.20; 95% CI 1.11, 1.30) and strengthening (AOR\u2009=\u20091.21; 95% CI 1.11, 1.33) guidelines, regardless of race/ethnicity except for a weak negative association with meeting strengthening guidelines (AOR\u2009=\u20090.85; CI 0.74–0.99) among Latinos. Conclusions Disparities in pain exist for African Americans and Latinos with arthritis. Physician exercise recommendation is critical among patients with arthritis to relieve symptom burden.