Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data

Aging is associated with changes to the heart, lungs, brain and muscles. An established way to slow such changes is through an active lifestyle. More recently, reducing the amount of time one spends sitting in a day has been associated with improved health and a lower risk of disability. However, there is little research on the relationship between sitting time and respiratory specific health outcomes. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are respiratory diseases that affect 8% and 12% of adult Canadians, respectively. In fact, COPD is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in Canada. People with asthma and COPD often feel short of breath and this shortness of breath may make it difficult for them to be active. This inactivity may lead to further declines in functional ability and lung function. One strategy to get adults with lung disease out of this vicious cycle might be to reduce their sitting time, as this may be a more feasible starting point than physical activity. The purpose of the proposed research is to determine if sitting time is associated with lung function; to determine the relationships between sitting time with healthcare use and quality of life among people with asthma and COPD; and to determine the impact that reducing sitting time would have on lung function. The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging has all of the variables necessary to understand these associations. Specifically, it contains information on lung function, healthcare use, quality of life and sitting time, as well as information on functional fitness, physical activity, respiratory disease, and many other factors that may impact these associations. Reducing sedentary time may be a new way to reduce the age-related decline in lung function in older adults, and it may be particularly beneficial among those who feel short of breath, as physical activity may be too challenging.