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Longitudinal Association Between Physical Activity and Frailty Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults
Author(s) -
Zhang Xuxi,
Tan Siok Swan,
Franse Carmen Betsy,
Bilajac Lovorka,
AlhambraBorrás Tamara,
GarcésFerrer Jorge,
Verma Arpana,
Williams Greg,
Clough Gary,
Koppelaar Elin,
Rentoumis Tasos,
Staveren Rob,
Voorham Antonius J. J.,
MattaceRaso Francesco,
Grieken Amy,
Raat Hein
Publication year - 2020
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.16391
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , longitudinal study , gerontology , cohort study , cohort , physical activity , demography , physical therapy , pathology , sociology
OBJECTIVES To examine the longitudinal association between frequency of moderate physical activity (PA) and overall, physical, psychological, and social frailty among community‐dwelling older adults older than 70 years. Second, we assessed the association between a 12‐month change in frequency of moderate PA and frailty. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Community settings in Spain, Greece, Croatia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1735 participants (61.1% female; mean age = 79.6 years; SD = 5.5 years). MEASUREMENTS The frequency of self‐reported moderate PA was measured and classified into two categories: “regular frequency” and “low frequency.” The 12‐month change in frequency of moderate PA between baseline and follow‐up was classified into four categories: “continued regular frequency,” “decreased frequency,” “continued low frequency,” and “increased frequency.” The 15‐item Tilburg Frailty Indicator assessed overall, physical, psychological, and social frailty. RESULTS Participants who undertook moderate PA with a regular frequency at baseline were less frail at 12‐month follow‐up than participants with a low frequency. Participants who undertook moderate PA with a continued regular frequency were least frail at baseline and at 12‐month follow‐up. After controlling for baseline frailty and covariates, compared with participants with a continued regular frequency, participants with a decreased frequency were significantly more overall (B = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.99‐1.63), physically (B = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.58‐1.03), psychologically (B = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.30‐0.56), and socially frail (B = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.04‐0.23) at 12‐month follow‐up; participants with a continued low frequency were significantly more overall (B = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.84‐1.49), physically (B = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.51‐0.96), psychologically (B = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.29‐0.55), and socially frail (B = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.04‐0.23) at 12‐month follow‐up; the 12‐month follow‐up frailty level of participants who undertook moderate PA with an increased frequency was similar to those with a continued regular frequency. CONCLUSION Maintaining a regular frequency of PA as well as increasing to a regular frequency of PA are associated with maintaining or improving overall, physical, psychological, and social frailty among European community‐dwelling older adults older than 70 years. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1484‐1493, 2020.