To find the comparison between physical activity, depression and quality of life in elderly living in old age homes and communities.

The present study was conducted on three hundred geriatric subjects (Group A :150 and Group B :150) to find comparison of physical activity depression and quality of life in subjects living in old age home and community. Physical activity, depression and quality of life were assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire Elderly (IPAQ-E), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL).

Table 1 and Figure 1, Figure 2 shows demographic details for older people with their mean age.

Graph 1

Graph 2 Table 2

Outcome Measure	Mean ± SD	Median
GDS	4.28±3.63	3
IPAQE	2229±2459	1262.5
OPQOL	134.8±30.4	135

Graph 3

Graph 4

Graph 5

Table 3

Outcome Measures	Old Age Home	Community
GDS	5.68±3.6	2.88±1.41
IPAQE	1905±2604	2552±2145
OPQOL	126.6±15.5	142.9±13.4

Table 4

Outcome Measures	Mean Difference	U	P
GDS	2.8±2.1	5.982	<0.001
IPAQ-E	647±459	8.724	<0.001
OPQOL	16.3±2.1	5.322	<0.001

Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean difference in outcome measures between the two groups old age homes and community residing older individuals. Mean GDS score for Group A was 5.68±3.6 and Group B was 2.88±1.41. Difference in mean GDS between the groups was 4.28±3.63 (U=5.982, p<0.001). Mean IPAQE score for Group A was 1905±2604 MET and Group B was 2552±2145 MET. Difference in mean IPAQE between the groups was 2229±2459 MET (U=8.724, p<0.001). Mean OPQOL for Group A was 126.6±15.5 and Group B was 142.9±13.4. Difference in mean OPQOL between the groups was 16.3±2.1 (U=5.322, p<0.001)

In 2020 Hyun-Ju Lee et al. conducted a convergent parallel mixed –method approach on Health-related quality of life in South Korean community-dwelling older adults with multimorbidity. He concluded that community-based programs and health promotion projects that consider psychological states (e.g., depression) are needed to boost the HRQoL of individuals with multimorbidity. 9

In 2019 Jiayi Gu et al. conducted a longitudinal study and concluded that multimorbidity was associated with lower HRQoL of the community-dwelling elderly. Distinct multimorbidity patterns had various impacts on different dimensions of HRQoL. Further studies should be carried out to investigate effective measures to improve HRQoL of the elderly with multimorbidity ¹⁰

In 2019 Pilania et al. conducted a systematic review and concluded that about one third elderly population of India suffered from depression with female preponderance. The estimates varied with type of study tool, geographic region, sampling methods, and presence of dementia. ¹¹

In 2019 Deepthi Karini et al. conducted a comparative study of depression among the elderly living in old age homes and community in Visakhapatnam. They concluded that high prevalence of depression is observed among the studied population indicates the need of screening for depression among elderly^{. 12}

In 2017 Biswajit et al. conducted a cross-sectional study based on country-representative data obtained from WHO’s World Health Survey .They concluded that lower frequency of vigorous physical activity were significantly associated with higher rates of depression diagnosed. Based on the findings, it is recommendable that health programs targeting mental health among middle- and older-aged population take steps to promote the level of PA within a multi-dimensional depression prevention framework. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the role of vigorous and moderate physical activity on the onset and intervention of depression among elderly population in the region. ¹³

In 2015 Chandrika et al. found that mean scores of QOL domains in physical and social domains were better in elderly living in community than Old Age Homes where as the QOL in domain environmental was better in elderly living in OAHs than community. Least scores were obtained on social domain among elderly compared to rest of domains irrespective of place of stay. These findings are similar to present study. ¹⁴

In 2015 U. Mohan et al. studied depression among elderly people living in community and in old age homes, and he found that elderly living in the old age home are more depressed than elderly living in community which is similar to present study. 15

The present study concluded that geriatric population living in old age homes is more depressed and has low level of physical activity than elderly living in community. This shows that elderly living in community have better quality of life than elderly living in old age homes

The present study suggests that physical activity level in elderly can be increased living in old age homes which may reduce depression and improve quality of life.

Future studies evaluating correlation of physical activity and depression in elderly, physical activity and fear of fall and physical activity and quality of life can be conducted.