Association between frailty and the combination of physical activity level and sedentary behavior in older adults.

BACKGROUND: The combined association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with adverse health factors is not yet clear in the literature. A combined analysis of physical activity level and sedentary behavior may provide evidence of the interrelation between these behavioral variables and the frailty syndrome. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity level, sedentary behavior and frailty in older adults. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated 457 older adults (age range = 60 to 96 years old) from the Longitudinal Study of the Elderly Health of Alcobaça, Bahia. The frailty condition was defined by the presence of three or more of the following criteria: unintentional weight loss, slow walking speed measured over a 4.57 m test, a reduction of manual grip strength and exhaustion. Based upon these criteria, participants were classified as non-frail or frail. Physical activity level and time spent in sedentary behavior were assessed with the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample. To examine the combined association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with frailty, chi-square and Poisson regression tests were used. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty was 8.8% (n = 40), with higher prevalence observed with increasing age. Low physical activity level combined with excessive time spent in sedentary behavior (physical activity level < 150 min/wk. and sedentary behavior ≥540 min/day) was associated with frailty, resulting in a prevalence ratio of 2.83 (95% CI, 1.23 to 6.52). CONCLUSION: Frailty is more prevalent among older adults who exhibit insufficient levels of physical activity combined with a great amount of time spent in sedentary behavior, even when adjusted for sociodemographic factors.

Physical activity, sedentary behavior and functionality in older adults: A cross-sectional path analysis.

Disability is negatively associated with the health of older adults, and it can be mediated by healthy lifestyles and behaviors throughout one's life. In this context, understanding the interrelationships between sedentary behavior, physical activity and functionality may assist in the implementation of effective public health actions. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between both physical activity and sedentary behavior and functionality in older adults and the possible mediators. The variables analyzed were selected according to the content analysis of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model, and included activity, participation, health conditions, body functions and structures, environmental factors and personal factors. 419 individuals participated in the study. Physical activity was directly associated with disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and the association was mediated by self-esteem, aerobic endurance, and agility/balance. Sedentary behavior was indirectly associated with IADL disability, and the association was mediated by aerobic resistance, nutritional status, and agility/balance. Regarding the basic activities of daily living (BADL), physical activity showed an indirect association mediated by aerobic resistance and IADL. The association of sedentary behavior with BADL was mediated by aerobic resistance and lower limb flexibility. These results reinforce the idea that functionality is multidimensional, and the mediating factors must be considered when strategies for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior are designed.

Análise dos grupos de pesquisa sobre incapacidade funcional no Brasil / Analysis of research groups on functional disability in Brazil / Análisis de grupos de investigación de discapacidad funcional en Brasil

Objetivo: Analisar as características dos grupos de pesquisa (GPs) sobre incapacidade funcional no Brasil. Método: Utilizou-se a base de dados do Diretório de Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico a partir dos termos: capacidade funcional, desempenho funcional, funcionalidade e classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde. Analisou-se os grupos quanto ao ano de formação, líderes, área de conhecimento, distribuição geográfica, quantidade de linhas de pesquisa e de recursos humanos. Resultados: Identificou-se 91 GPs, a partir de 1999, inseridos na grande área do conhecimento Ciências da Saúde. Todas as regiões do Brasil possuem GPs sobre incapacidade funcional, sendo mais presentes no Sudeste (48,4%) e Nordeste (24,2%). A principal produção científica dos líderes foi de artigos científicos (84,5%). Conclusão: Há um aumento na criação dos GPs sobre incapacidade funcional, porém há disparidades regionais. (AU).

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of research groups (RGs) on functional disability in Brazil. Method: The database of the Directory of Research Groups in Brazil of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development was used based on the terms: functional capacity, functional performance, functionality and international classification of functionality, disability and health. The groups were analyzed according to the year of formation, leaders, area of knowledge, geographic distribution, number of lines of research and human resources. Results: 91 GPs were identified, starting in 1999, inserted in the large area of Health Sciences knowledge. All regions of Brazil have GPs on functional disability, with more presence in the Southeast (48.4%) and Northeast (24.2%). The main scientific production of the leaders was scientific articles (84.5%). Conclusion: There is an increase in the creation of GPs on functional disability, but there are regional disparities. (AU).

Objetivo: Analizar las características de los grupos de investigación (GR) sobre discapacidad funcional en Brasil. Método: Se utilizó la base de datos del Directorio de Grupos de Investigación de Brasil del Consejo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico con base en los términos: capacidad funcional, desempeño funcional, funcionalidad y clasificación internacional de funcionalidad, discapacidad y salud. Los grupos fueron analizados según año de formación, líderes, área de conocimiento, distribución geográfica, número de líneas de investigación y recursos humanos. Resultados: Fueron identificados 91 médicos generales, a partir de 1999, insertos en la gran área de conocimiento de las Ciencias de la Salud. Todas las regiones de Brasil tienen médicos de discapacidad funcional, con mayor presencia en el Sudeste (48,4%) y Nordeste (24,2%). La principal producción científica de los líderes fue artículos científicos (84,5%). Conclusión: Hay un aumento en la creación de médicos de discapacidad funcional, pero hay disparidades regionales. (AU).