Premium
Hospitalizations During a Physical Activity Intervention in Older Adults at Risk of Mobility Disability: Analyses from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Randomized Clinical Trial
Author(s) -
Marsh Anthony P.,
Applegate William B.,
Guralnik Jack M.,
Jack Rejeski W.,
Church Timothy S.,
Fielding Roger A.,
Gill Thomas M.,
King Abby C.,
Kritchevsky Stephen B.,
Manini Todd M.,
McDermott Mary M.,
Newman Anne B.,
Stowe Cynthia L.,
Walkup Michael P.,
Pahor Marco,
Miller Michael E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.14114
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , hazard ratio , confidence interval , physical therapy , psychological intervention , gerontology , psychiatry
Objectives To determine whether moderate‐intensity physical activity ( PA ) and health education ( HE ) are differentially associated with categories of hospitalizations or subgroups of participants. Design Multicenter randomized controlled trial in which participants were randomized to a PA or HE program for an average of 2.6 years. Setting Eight field centers. Participants Sedentary men and women aged 70–89 with lower extremity physical limitations but able to walk 400‐m in 15 minutes or less (N = 1,635). Interventions Structured, moderate‐intensity PA (n = 818) at a center (2×/wk) and at home (3–4×/wk) that included aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility training or HE (n = 817) of educational workshops and upper extremity stretching exercises. Measurements All‐cause inpatient hospitalizations ascertained at 6‐month intervals. Results There were 1,458 hospitalizations (49.1% of PA , 44.4% of HE ; risk difference = 4.68%, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = −0.18–9.54; hazard ratio ( HR ) = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.00–1.34). The intervention effect on incident hospitalization did not differ according to race, sex, Short Physical Performance Battery score, age, or history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. PA was associated with higher rates of hospitalization in the middle baseline gait speed category, than HE (<0.8 m/s: HR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.76–1.14; 0.8–1.0 m/s: HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.23–1.94; >1.0 m/s: HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.67–1.65; interaction P = .005). Conclusion A PA program in older adults at risk for mobility disability did not lead to a different risk of specific types of hospitalizations than a HE program overall. Baseline gait speed may be a marker for risk of hospitalization during a PA intervention, because individuals with moderate baseline gait speed in the PA group had slightly higher rates of hospitalization than those in the HE group. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01072500.