Work Ability and Health-Related Quality of Life in Middle-Aged Men

The aims of the present study were to examine the relationship between the perceived work ability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to investigate their associations with age, physical activity and physical fitness in middle-aged Finnish men. This investigation included two cross-sectional studies (III, IV) and a cohort study with a 15year follow-up (I, II). The subjects in the cross-sectional studies (n = 196 and n = 104) were middle-aged men working in blue collar occupations. They participated in occupationally oriented medical rehabilitation courses. The methods included questionnaires on perceived work ability assessed by the work ability index (WAI), HRQoL assessed with the RAND-36 and on type and frequency of physical activity. Different test modes were compared in order to assess the association of fitness test results with the perceived work ability and HRQoL. In the first cross-sectional study (III) the physical fitness was assessed by a submaximal cycle-ergometer test and in the second (IV) by a maximal cycle-ergometer test, the UKK Walk Test and muscular performance tests (grip force, sit-ups, back endurance, squatting and dynamic lifting with both upper extremities). The follow-up study (n = 94, middle-aged police officers) included questionnaires in physical activity, the WAI, subjective predictors of physical activity according to PRECEDE-PROCEED model and measurements of anthropometric characteristics, cardio-respiratory fitness (submaximal cycle-ergometer) and muscular performance (sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups). In the cross-sectional design with middle-aged men, the WAI correlated strongly with the items of RAND-36. Perceived energy and emotional well-being seemed to be the higher the older the subjects were. Cardio-respiratory fitness assessed with the cycle-ergometer and physical activity had only weak correlations with the work ability and quality of life in our study populations. Instead, the cardio-respiratory fitness assessed by the UKK Walk Test had a significant correlation with the WAI and it also predicted the physical dimensions of the RAND-36. Among middleaged men (IV) muscular fitness of upper and lower limbs had a significant correlation with both the WAI and the physical dimensions of the RAND-36. Among police officers (I) the number of sit-ups in baseline had a significant correlation with the WAI at follow-up. The follow-up study revealed that police officers became physically more active at their leisure-time with advancing age. Despite this both aerobic and muscular fitness declined. This could be explained by aging and the mean weight gain of approximately 7.2 kg. The level of physical activity in baseline predicted the level of physical activity and fitness 15 years later. The feeling of enjoyment had a significant correlation to leisure-time physical activity and fitness among the police officers. Fitness may also be a determinant of physical activity. These studies demonstrate that perceived work ability and HRQoL are significantly and positively associated with each other, and that walking ability and muscular fitness may be contributing factors for both work ability and quality of life. National Library of Medicine Classification: QT 255, WA 30, WE 103, WG 141.5.F9, Medical Subject Headings: Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emotions; Exercise Test; Finland; Health Behavior; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Physical Fitness; Police; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Walking; Work Capacity Evaluation Sörensen, Lars. Työkyky ja elämänlaatu keski-ikäisillä miehillä: fyysisen kunnon ja fyysisen aktiivisuuden merkitys. Kuopion Yliopiston julkaisusarja D. Lääketiede 438. 2008. 84 s. ISBN 978-951-27-0958-8 ISBN 978-951-27-1055-3 (PDF) ISSN 1235-0303