Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that are associated with physical activity after hospitalization in persons living with dementia.Methods: Multiple linear regressions were conducted to test factors associated with objective activity levels (sedentary, low, moderate, and vigorous) among 244 patients living with dementia from a randomized controlled trial.Results: Within 48 hours of hospital discharge, time in sedentary behavior was associated with increased pain (beta = 0.164, P = 0.015). Time in low activity was associated with less pain (beta = -0.130, P = 0.049) and higher physical function (beta = 0.300, P = < 0.001). Time in moderate activity was associated with increased physical function (beta=0.190, P = 0.008) and male gender (beta = 0.155, P = 0.016). No significant associations of potential factors were found with time in vigorous activity.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that managing or reducing pain, encouraging individual functional level, and gender could influence time spent in physical activity after acute hospitalization in persons living with dementia.