Sociodemographic Pattern of Physical Activity in the Northwest of Iran: Results of the Pilot Phase of the Azar Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Sedentary lifestyle plays a key role in the emergence of many noncommunicable diseases. Given the importance of physical activity (PA) in population-based studies, the present study was conducted to investigate the pattern of PA and its correlates in the pilot phase of Azar cohort study. METHODS: In the pilot phase of Azar cohort study, 1236 individuals aged 35–70 years in Khameneh, a city in East Azarbaijan, Iran, were invited to participate in the study. A total of 952 individuals completed the overall and the PA questionnaire, a response rate of 82%. The PA level was evaluated using the classified PA questionnaire based on the equivalent metabolic activities. The general linear model was used to determine the factors affecting PA. RESULTS: The overall mean score of PA was 36.54 (standard deviation = 5.3). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for sociodemographic variables, total PA score was associated with gender (adjusted β = 0.014, confidence interval [CI] 95% = [0.01–0.82]), occupation (adjusted βs ranged over 0.015–0.059, (CI 95% = 0.01–0.079), level of education (adjusted βs ranged over 0.010–0.018, CI 95% = 0.001–0.026). In other word, sex (mean ranged over 35.49–36.81), educational level (mean ranged over 35.01–36.73) and occupation status (mean ranged over 34.62–39.62) were predictors of PA (all P < 0.05). This variable could also predict 20% of the variance of the PA. CONCLUSIONS: The current study identifies that gender, occupation and level of education could be factors that influence on PA level in the study population.