The Association Between Health-related Quality of Life and Physical Activity in Postmenopausal Korean Women: Findings From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract Background: Physical activity (PA) in postmenopausal women provides some relief of menopausal symptoms and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study used a cross-sectional database to investigate the association between PA level and HRQoL in postmenopausal Korean women.Methods: This study investigated 8,122 postmenopausal women who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI to VII (2014–2018). Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Euro quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire were used to collect data about the participants’ PA level and HRQoL. The adjusted Odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for each dimensional problem of EQ-5D were derived using multi-variable logistic regression. Mean EQ-5D index scores were compared according to PA level groups.Results: The aORs of each dimension of HRQoL of low PA group versus moderate PA group were 0.67 (95% CI 0.57–0.78) for mobility, 0.71 (95% CI 0.55–0.92) for self-care, 0.64 (95% CI 0.53–0.78) for daily activities, and 0.75 (95% CI 0.66–0.86) for pain/discomfort. Mean EQ–5D scores of the moderate PA (0.927 ± 0.120 vs. 0.884 ± 0.163, P < 0.001) and high PA (0.913 ± 0.144 vs. 0.884 ± 0.163, P = 0.023) groups were significantly higher than that of the low PA group.Conclusions: PA level was found to be associated with better HRQoL among postmenopausal Korean women. This was especially significant in participants who were participating with a moderate level of PA. Additional studies are needed to analyze the persistence and long-term effects of PA on HRQoL.