Hongjun Yu

Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Study of University Retirees in Beijing, China

OBJECTIVES We examined the longitudinal relationship between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and physical activity-related health behaviors among university retirees in Beijing, China. METHODS Annual health surveys of retirees were conducted at Tsinghua University during 2011-2016. We conducted linear individual fixed-effect regression analyses to estimate the impact of ambient PM2.5 concentration on physical activity-related health behaviors among survey participants, adjusting for various time-variant individual characteristics and environmental measures. RESULTS An increase in ambient PM2.5 concentration by one standard deviation (56.6 μg/m³) was associated with a reduction in weekly total hours of walking by 4.69 (95% confidence interval=1.30-8.08), a reduction in leisure-time Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score by 71.16 (28.91-113.41), and a reduction in total PASE score by 110.67 (59.25-162.08). An increase in ambient PM2.5 concentration by one standard deviation was associated with an increase in daily average hours of nighttime/daytime sleeping by 1.75 (1.24-2.26). The impact of ambient PM2.5 concentration on weekly hours of walking tended to be greater among men than among women. CONCLUSIONS Air pollution significantly discouraged Chinese older adults from engaging in daily physical activities. Policy interventions are needed to reduce air pollution in Chinas urban areas.

Associations Between Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: Evidence From Chinese Older Adults

OBJECTIVE This study examined the associations between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and health care expenditures among Chinese older adults. METHOD We conducted a survey on 4,165 older men and women living in major cities in China. Sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly questionnaire. Health care costs were assessed by self-reported out-of-pocket health care expenditures across outpatient care, inpatient care, medication, and formal caregiver expenses. RESULTS Sedentary behavior was associated with an increase in annual out-of-pocket health care expenditures by approximately USD

Body weight status and health-care expenditure among university retirees in Beijing, China

37 for each additional sedentary hour (p < .001). Physical activity was associated with a decrease in annual health care expenditures by approximately USD

A quasi-experimental study of Chinese top-level speed skaters' training load: threshold versus polarized model.

1.2 for each one Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly score (p < .001). Physical activity was a less salient indicator of health care expenditure for men than women. CONCLUSIONS Reducing sedentary behavior among older men and women and promoting physical activity, especially among men, may be important strategies to reduce out-of-pocket health care expenditures in China.

The association between ambient fine particulate air pollution and physical activity: a cohort study of university students living in Beijing

This study examined the impact of overweight and obesity on health‐care expenditure among university retirees in Beijing, China.