482 Improvement of health outcomes and quality of life of Hispanic older adults in Puerto Rico through participation in a Physical Activity (PA) Community-based Program

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The proposed study aims to improve physical and mental health outcomes among Hispanic older adults who live alone in a low-income San Juan, Puerto Rico community through weekly PA groups. Specific outcomes include measures of loneliness, social isolation, depression, physical mobility, metabolic indicators, and other health indicators. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data will be collected at three time points: Pre (Week 1), Mid (Week 6), and Post (Week 12) intervention. Currently, the community has 50 residents over 65 years old who live under the poverty index and receive multiple social benefits. Various tools will be implemented to measure loneliness (University of California Los Angeles – Loneliness Scale-10 items), social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale-6 items), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-10 items), physical mobility (Time Up and Go Test), metabolic health indicators (hemoglobin A1c and glucose) and other health indicators (i.e., blood pressure, cholesterol, as well as body mass index (BMI)). These measurements will determine if participation in PA groups is associated with improvement of the variables measured. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is expected that the baseline scores of older Hispanic adults in terms of loneliness, social isolation, depression, physical mobility, metabolic indicators (i.e., cholesterol level and hemoglobin A1c), and other health indicators (blood pressure or BP and BMI) will be lower compared to those after participation in the Physical Activity Program. More frequent participation will be associated with more significant improvement in measured variables. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Results from this study will determine the effectiveness of community-based PA interventions in addressing loneliness, social isolation, depression, physical mobility, and metabolic factors (hemoglobin A1c and glucose) in elderly minority Hispanic populations as a means of improving their health outcomes and quality of life.