Physical activity, fitness, and all-cause mortality: An 18-year follow-up among old people

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about change in physical activity (PA) and its relationship to all-cause mortality among old people. There is even less information about the association between PA, fitness, and all-cause mortality among people aged 80 years and above. The objective is to investigate persistence and change in PA over 5 years as a predictor of all-cause mortality, and fitness as a mediator of this association, among people aged 80 and 85 years at the beginning of an 18-year mortality follow-up period.MethodsUsing Evergreen Project data (started in 1989), 4 study groups were formed according to self-reported changes in PA level, over a 5-year period (starting in 1989–1990 and ending in 1994–1995): remained active (RA, control group), changed to inactive (CI), remained inactive (RI), and changed to active (CA). Mortality was followed up over the 18-year period (1994–2012). Cox models with different covariates such as age, sex, use of alcohol, smoking, chronic diseases, and a 10 m walking test were used to analyze the association between change in PA level and mortality.ResultsCompared to RA, those who decreased their PA level (CI) between baseline and follow-up had higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR = 2.09; 95%CI: 1.63–2.69) when adjusted for age, gender, and chronic diseases. RI showed the highest all-cause mortality (HR = 2.16; 95%CI: 1.59–2.93). In CA, when compared against RA, the risk of all-cause mortality was not statistically significant (HR = 1.51; 95%CI: 0.95–2.38). In comparison with RA, when walking speed over 10 m was added as a covariate, all-cause mortality risk was almost statistically significant only in CI (HR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.00–1.87).ConclusionPersistence and change in PA level was associated with mortality. This association was largely explained by fitness status. Randomized controlled studies are needed to test whether maintaining or increasing PA level could lengthen the life of old people.

The Impact of 10-Year Physical Activity Changes on 7-Year Mortality in Older Mexican Americans

“…1,15–18,20,21,25,26,31,39,42–44 The results of this current study of older Mexican Americans show that increased PA with age results in a 43% reduction of mortality risk compared to unchanged low activity, after controlling for all covariates. The mortality risk from increasing PA was more favorable that an unchanging high level of PA after 3 years.…”

“…Investigators have found that an increase in PA or maintenance of a high PA level results in a more favorable mortality outcome compared to unchanged low levels of PA. 12–17 Furthermore, maintaining a low level of PA or decreasing PA over time increases the risk for premature death. 12–14,18 However, few studies that evaluate the effect of changing PA level differentiate between PA domains or investigate this relationship among Mexican-Americans who have a lower mortality rate and a higher rate of non-leisure time PA. 10,11 There is some evidence that suggests sustained PA and consistent non-sedentariness improve mortality rates among Hispanics, 16,19 but these studies are not specific to Mexican-Americans 19 and were exclusively among myocardial infarction patients. 16 PA domains, such as leisure-time, walking and household activities, have been shown to reduce mortality risk among older Mexican Americans.…”

Older adults' preferences for, adherence to and experiences of two self-management falls prevention home exercise programmes: A comparison between a digital programme and a paper booklet

“…Differences between groups (based on choice of programme) for baseline characteristics were analysed using Chi-square test (Fisher's exact test if expected count were <5), Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test depending on variable. The activity level of the SGPALS was dichotomized into groups of being inactive (level 1-2) or active (level 3-6) using the same method as Äijö et al [27].…”

Low total physical activity, high total sitting time and high sitting time on a work day are correlated with low fitness in male working adults: a cross sectional study

“…We found that total physical activity was associated with fitness level regardless of domain, which was consistent with previous studies and existing guidelines. [33][34][35][36] ACSM/AHA recommend adults aged 18-65 need 30 minutes moderateintensity physical activity on five days each week or 20 minutes vigorous-intensity physical activity on three days each week which can be accumulated from bouts lasting 10 or more minutes. As long as the accumulation of short bout physical activities reached the minimum amount of total activity per week, total physical activity of all domains could give benefit to fitness level.…”