Association of physical symptoms with accelerometer-measured movement behaviors and functional capacity in individuals with Long COVID.

Long COVID has been linked to a decline in physical activity and functional capacity. However, it remains unclear which physical symptoms are associated with specific aspects of movement behaviors and functional capacity. We aimed to investigate the associations of fatigue, dyspnea, post-exertional malaise, myalgia, and the co-occurrence of symptoms with movement behaviors and functional capacity in individuals with Long COVID. A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted. Questionnaires were used to assess fatigue, dyspnea, post-exertional malaise, and myalgia. Accelerometry was employed to assess sedentary time, steps per day, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The six-minute walk test, 30-s chair stand test, and timed up and go were used to assess functional capacity. One hundred and two community-dwelling individuals who had been living with Long COVID for 15 ± 10 months participated in the study. Fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and the co-occurrence of physical symptoms showed a negative association with step count, while post-exertional malaise was also negatively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Dyspnea showed a negative association with the functional score, including all tests. Our findings suggest that fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and the co-occurrence of physical symptoms are negatively associated with physical activity, while dyspnea is negatively associated with functional capacity in individuals with Long COVID.

Independent, Stratified, and Joint Associations of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Recent statistics highlight cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a major global cause of death. This review examines the methodological approaches and the main results of independent, stratified, and joint association of sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) on CVD outcomes. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for prospective cohorts that examined the independent, stratified, or joint associations of ST and PA with CVD outcomes. Independent associations were defined as analyses mutually adjusted for PA and ST. Stratified associations were considered when there was a reference group in each stratum of PA or ST, and joint associations were defined by a single reference group for all other combined categories of ST and PA levels. RESULTS: Of 45 articles, 69% explored independent association of ST or PA on CVD outcomes, while 31% using a stratified/joint approach. Most studies used self-reports for ST and PA and focused on CVD mortality. Mutually adjusted analyses identified ST positively and PA inversely associated to CVD outcomes. Stratified studies showed higher ST's pronounced impact on CVD for lower PA levels. High PA mitigated but did not eliminate ST's negative impact. Joint analyses revealed highest CVD risk in those with both high ST and low PA, and elevated risk in various intermediate combinations. CONCLUSIONS: Employing independent, stratified, and joint association approaches can yield distinct and complementary public health messages aimed at promoting cardiovascular health. Recommendations should aim to not only to encourage boosting PA levels, but also, concurrently decrease ST.

Thigh muscle by CT images as a predictor of mortality in patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of thigh muscle assessed by CT images to predict overall mortality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This was a multicenter cohort study including adults (≥ 18 years old) newly diagnosed with CRC, who performed a diagnostic computed tomography (CT) exam including thigh regions. CT images were analyzed to evaluate skeletal muscle (SM in cm2), skeletal muscle index (SMI in cm2/m2), and skeletal muscle density (SMD in HU). Muscle abnormalities (low SM, SMI, and SMD) were defined as the values below the median by sex. Kaplan-Meyer curves and hazard ratios (HRs) for low SM, SMI and SMD were evaluated for overall mortality, stratified by sex. A total of 257 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients' mean age was 62.6 ± 12.1 years, and 50.2% (n = 129) were females. In males, low thigh SMI was associated with shorter survival (log-rank P = .02). Furthermore, this low thigh SMI (cm2/m2) was independently associated with higher mortality rates (HR adjusted 2.08, 95% CI 1.03-4.18). Our additional findings demonstrated that low SMD was independently associated with overall mortality among early-stage patients (I-III) (HR adjusted 2.78, 95% CI 1.26-6.15).

Can step count be used to identify older adults with high sedentary time and low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity?

INTRODUCTION: Combined high sedentary time (ST) and low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. However, accurately assessing ST and MVPA in older adults is challenging in clinical practice. PURPOSE: To investigate whether step count can identify older adults with unhealthier movement behavior (high ST/low MVPA) and poorer cardiometabolic profile. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (n = 258; 66 ± 5 years). Step count, ST, and MVPA were assessed by hip accelerometry during 7 days. The cardiometabolic profile was assessed using a continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS), including blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and waist circumference. Receiving operating curve analysis was used to test the performance of step count in identifying older adults with unhealthier movement behavior (highest tertile of ST/lowest tertile of MVPA). Healthier movement behavior was defined as lowest tertile of ST/highest tertile of MVPA, with neutral representing the remaining combinations of ST/MVPA. RESULTS: A total of 40 participants (15.5%) were identified with unhealthier movement behavior (ST ≥ 11.4 h/day and MVPA ≤ 10 min/day). They spent ~73% and 0.4% of waking hours in ST and MVPA, respectively. Step count identified those with unhealthier movement behavior (area under the curve 0.892, 0.850-0.934; cutoff: ≤5263 steps/day; sensitivity/specificity: 83%/81%). This group showed a higher cMetS compared with neutral (ß = .25, p = .028) and healthier movement behavior groups (ß = .41, p = .008). CONCLUSION: Daily step count appears to be a practical, simple metric for identifying community-dwelling older adults with concomitant high ST and low MVPA, indicative of unhealthier movement behavior, who have a poorer cardiometabolic profile.

Associations of upper- and lower-limb muscle strength, mass, and quality with health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the associations between upper- and lower-limb muscle strength, mass, and quality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 428 Brazilian community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 80 years. Upper- and lower-limb muscle strength were evaluated through the handgrip strength (HGS) test and the 30-s chair stand test, respectively. Muscle mass was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Muscle quality was evaluated using the muscle quality index (MQI). HRQoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version questionnaire. RESULTS: Lower-limb, but not upper-limb, muscle strength and quality were independently associated with HRQoL, particularly within the domains of physical capacity, environment, and overall HRQoL for both males and females (P < 0.05). DXA- and BIA-derived analyses provided similar results in relation to muscle mass and muscle quality. CONCLUSIONS: Lower-limb, but not upper-limb, muscle strength and quality were independently associated with HRQoL among community-dwelling older adults. Moreover, the results obtained from both BIA and DXA were similar, highlighting that BIA can serve as a viable surrogate method for estimating body composition in resource-limited clinical settings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 683-692.

Muscle quality and major adverse cardiovascular events in post-acute myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Functional muscle quality, as assessed through the muscle quality index (MQI), represents a contemporary method to measure the capacity to generate force. Despite its potential, the prognostic significance of MQI remains uncertain in various clinical conditions, particularly among patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In light of this, our study sought to evaluate the prognostic relevance of MQI concerning major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients following AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study that included subjects aged ≥20 years from a Cardiovascular Unit Hospital. Functional muscle quality was estimated using MQI, defined as the ratio of handgrip strength (HGS) to muscle mass (MM) derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis. The outcomes included prolonged length of hospital stay, new adverse cardiovascular events (AMI, stroke and hospital readmission for unstable angina), and cardiovascular mortality. A composite score comprising all adverse events over the 1-year follow-up was calculated and defined as MACE. This study included 163 patients, with a median age of 61 years (IQ: 54-69 years), and the majority consisted of males (76.1%). Individual components of the functional muscle quality (HGS and MM) were not associated with any of the adverse outcomes. Only MQI was associated mortality over the 1-year follow-up. For each increase in MQI, the hazard of mortality decreases: adjusted HR: 0.08 (95% CI 0.01-0.84). CONCLUSION: Functional muscle quality assessed by the MQI may be a valuable clinical predictor of 1-year cardiovascular mortality in patients hospitalized post-AMI.

Strength-to-muscle radiodensity: A potential new index for muscle quality.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although it is widely recognized that muscle quality significantly influences adverse outcomes in patients with cancer, the precise definition of muscle quality remains elusive. The muscle quality index (MQI), also known as muscle-specific strength, is a relatively recent functional concept of muscle quality. It is obtained through the ratio of muscle strength to muscle mass, but its predictive value in patients with cancer remains unknown. In this study, we explored the prognostic significance of MQI in patients with cancer. Furthermore, we introduce and assess the prognostic potential of a novel muscle quality metric: the strength-to-muscle-radiodensity index (SMRi). METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted on a prospective cohort study. CT scans were opportunistically used to assess body composition parameters, including skeletal muscle mass (SM in cm2) and muscle radiodensity (SMD in HU) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured. MQICT was calculated using the ratio of HGS to SM (cm2). SMRi was calculated as the ratio of HGS to SMD (HU). For analysis purposes, low MQICT and SMRi were defined using two approaches: statistical cutoffs associated with survival, and median-based distribution data. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were included (52.8% females, 52% adults, 20-90 years). Gastrointestinal tumors and stage III-IV were the most frequent diagnosis and stages. SMRi and MQICT were strongly positively correlated (ρ = 0.71 P < 0.001). Individual components of MQICT and SMRi were also positively correlated. Patients with both low MQICT and SMRi had shorter survival (log-rank P = 0.023 and P = 0.003, respectively). When applying median distribution cutoffs, SMRi emerged as the most accurate predictor of mortality (HR adjusted 3.18, 95% CI 1.50 to 6.75, C-index: 0.71), when compared to MQICT (HR adjusted 1.49, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.87, C-index: 0.68). CONCLUSION: This study introduces the concept and potential prognostic significance of the SMRi. The physiological and clinical implications of this new index warrant further investigation across a spectrum of diseases, including cancer.

Effects of school-based interventions on blood pressure in obese children: metanalysis / Efeitos de intervenções de base escolar na pressão arterial de crianças com obesidade: metanálise

Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA), a systematic review with metanalysis was conducted to identify and summarize the effects of school-based physical activity interventions that sought to control and / or reduce blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) in children and / or adolescents with overweight and / or obesity. In September 2022, potential studies were searched in five electronic databases (Pubmed, Scielo, Scopus, Sportdiscus, and Web of Science) and in reference lists. Randomized controlled trials conducted in schools with interventions involving physical activity and assessment of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years with overweight and / or obesity were con-sidered for synthesis. The risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool (EPHPP). Metanalysis was developed from the random model. Four studies were included. For systolic blood pressure, a summary effect of -0.10 (95% CI: -0.39; 0.19; I2 = 0%) was observed. For diastolic pressure, the metanalysis indicated -0.33 (95% CI: -0.62; -0.04; I2 = 11%). Considering the promising effects on diastolic blood pressure, we suggest the develop-ment of more school-based interventions based on physical activity practice for overweight and / or obese populations, which may also add environmental elements, longer duration, multicomponent approaches, and parent / guardian involvement to their strategies.

Com base na declaração Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com metanálise para identificar e sumarizar os efeitos de intervenções escolar baseadas na atividade física que buscaram o controle e / ou redução da pressão arterial (sistólica e diastólica) em crianças e / ou adolescentes com excesso de peso e / ou obesidade. Em setembro de 2022, estudos potenciais foram pesquisados em cinco bases de dados eletrônicas (Pubmed, Scielo, Scopus, Sportdiscus, e Web of Science) e em listas de referências. Foram considerados para a síntese ensaios controlados randomizados realizados em escolas, com intervenções que envolviam a atividade física e avaliação da pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica em crianças e adolescentes dos 6 aos 19 anos com excesso de peso e/ ou obesidade. O risco de viés foi avaliado utilizando uma versão adaptada do instrumento Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP). A metanálise foi elaborada a partir do modelo randômico. Foram incluídos quatro estudos. Para a pressão arterial sistólica, observou-se um efeito sumarizado de -0,10 (IC 95%: -0,39; 0,19; I2 = 0%). Para a pressão diastólica, a metanálise indicou -0,33 (IC 95%: -0,62; -0,04; I2 = 11%). Considerando os efeitos promissores na pressão arterial diastólica, sugerimos o desenvolvimento de mais intervenções escola-res fundamentadas na prática de atividade física às populações com sobrepeso e / ou obesidade, que possam agregar também, em suas estratégias, elementos ambientais, maior duração, abordagens multicomponentes e envolvimento dos pais / responsáveis.

The joint profiles of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength on daily physical activity levels in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: In peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients, the joint profile of low strength and cardiorespiratory fitness on movement behaviors, specifically physical activity levels and sedentary time, remains unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the joint profiles between cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness and daily physical activity among PAD patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in a sample of 155 PAD patients. We measured their physical activity level per week using accelerometers, assessed their muscle strength through a sit-to-stand test and cardiorespiratory fitness through a six-minute walk test. Patients were categorized into three groups: those with high strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (NC, n = 28), those with at least one component classified as low (1C, n = 88), and those with both components classified as low fitness (2C, n = 39). RESULTS: The patients in the 1C and 2C groups spent less time engaged in low-light and moderate activities compared to the NC group (low-light: NC: 2291 ± 680 minutes/week vs. 1C: 1826 ± 649 minutes/week vs. 2C: 1885 ± 651 minutes/week, p = .005; moderate: NC: 2617 ± 796 minutes/week vs. 1C: 2071 ± 767 minutes/week vs. 2C: 2092 ± 776 minutes/week, p = .005) and the patients in the 2C group spent less time engaged in vigorous activities compared to the NC and 1C groups (NC: 155 ± 148 minutes/week vs. 1C: 110 ± 110 minutes/week vs. 2C: 64 ± 70 minutes/week, p = .003). CONCLUSION: PAD patients with low strength and/or cardiorespiratory fitness are more likely to spend less time engaging in low-light and moderate physical activities and patients with low fitness in both components are more likely to spend less time engaging in vigorous physical activity.

Effect of High-Intensity Interval, Moderate-Intensity Continuous, and Self-Selected Intensity Training on Health and Affective Responses.

Purpose: To compare the effects of 12-week high-intensity interval (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous (MICT), and self-selected intensity training (SSIT) on health outcomes and affective responses. Methods: Seventy-three overweight/obese inactive adults (62% woman; age, 31.4 ± 7.2 years; height, 1.66 ± 0.09 cm; Body mass index, 28.9 ± 2.7 kg.m-2) who were randomized into HIIT (n = 23), MICT (n = 24) and SSIT (n = 26) groups. The training was conducted three times per week in an outdoor environment, with 4 weeks under direct supervision and 8 weeks with semi-supervision. Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and metabolic profile were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the 4th and 12th weeks. Core affect was measured during all training sessions. Results: Peak oxygen uptake improved in all groups after 4 and 12 weeks compared with baseline. Only the SSIT had reductions in body fat throughout the intervention. No improvements were observed in the metabolic profile across all groups. SSIT was perceived as more pleasurable than HIIT; however, there were no differences in affective responses between SSIT and MICT. Affective responses in-task (e.g. negative and positive peak, rate of change and affect at the end of the exercise session) predicted the HIIT and SSIT exercises attendance rate. Conclusion: Regardless of the exercise training protocol, overweight/obese inactive adults improved health outcomes, which suggests the prescribing HIIT, MICT, and SSIT in outdoor environments. SSIT should be considered in order to optimize the pleasure during training sessions. Affective response more positive in-task of the HIIT and SSIT is associated with greater attendance rate in these exercise protocols.

Independent and joint association of sarcopenia and frailty with mortality in older patients with gastrointestinal cancer: a cohort study with prospective data collection.

PURPOSE: Sarcopenia and frailty are associated with mortality in older patients with gastrointestinal cancer. However, it is unclear if there is an additional risk when both are present. This study aimed to investigate the independent and overlapping of sarcopenia and frailty with mortality in this population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study including older patients (≥ 60 years old) with gastrointestinal cancer. Sarcopenia was defined by the EWGSP2 criteria: (i) low muscle strength (handgrip test), (ii) low muscle mass (skeletal muscle index), and/or low muscle quality (skeletal muscle radiodensity) by computed tomography. Frailty was defined according to Fried phenotype (at least three of the five components): (i) low muscle strength (handgrip test), (ii) unintentional weight loss, (iii) self-reported exhaustion, (iv) low physical activity, and (v) low gait speed. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess overall survival rates and risk of mortality. RESULTS: We evaluated 179 patients with gastrointestinal cancer [68.0 (61.0-75.0) years old; 45% women]. The prevalence of sarcopenia, frailty, and sarcopenia-frailty was 32.9% (n = 59), 59.2% (n = 106), and 24.6% (n = 44), respectively. The incidence of mortality was 27.9% (n = 50) over a 23-month (IQR, 10, 28) period. There was an association of sarcopenia (HR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.03-3.06) with mortality, but no association was found of frailty and the outcome. Sarcopenia-frailty was associated with the highest risk of mortality (HR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.27-3.92). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenic-frail older patients with gastrointestinal cancer have a higher risk of mortality than those with sarcopenia or frailty alone, which reinforces the importance of assessing both conditions in oncology clinical care.

Independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength with cardiometabolic risk in older adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and joint associations of low cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength with cardiometabolic risk in older adults. A total of 360 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Cardiometabolic risk was based on the diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength were estimated using the six-minute walk and the 30-second chair stand tests, respectively. Participants in the 20th percentile were defined as having low cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength. Poisson's regression was used to determine the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of Metabolic Syndrome and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health. Participants with low cardiorespiratory fitness alone and combined with low lower-limb muscle strength were similarly associated with a higher risk for Metabolic Syndrome (PR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.48, and PR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.58, respectively), and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.25-2.47, and PR 1.65, 95% CI 1.19-2.28, respectively). Low lower-limb muscle strength alone was not associated with a higher risk for either Metabolic Syndrome or poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health (PR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.87, and PR 1.11, 95% CI 0.89-1.37, respectively). Low cardiorespiratory fitness alone or combined with low lower-limb muscle strength, but not low lower-limb muscle strength alone, was associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk in older adults. The assessment of physical fitness may be a "window of opportunity" to identify youngest-old adults with a high cardiovascular disease risk.

Polypharmacy, physical activity, and sedentary time in older adults: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To map out the studies that have investigated the associations of polypharmacy and/or potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use with physical activity and sedentary time in older adults. METHODS: We conducted a literature search from inception to December 2022 in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. INCLUSION CRITERIA: observational studies including older adults (≥60 years); English, Portuguese, and Spanish languages; any definition of polypharmacy; implicit and explicit criteria of PIM use; physical activity and/or sedentary time data. RESULTS: Fourteen cross-sectional studies were included; 11 defined polypharmacy as ≥5 medications (prevalence ranging from 9.5 % to 57 %). No study reported information on PIM use. Most studies included participants aged <80 years. Twelve studies included self-reported measures of physical activity, while two studies used accelerometer-measured physical activity. Ten studies included analyses adjusted for confounders, and nine considered polypharmacy as an outcome. All of them demonstrated an inverse association between physical activity and polypharmacy, irrespective of the definition of polypharmacy and the assessment method employed (self-reported or accelerometry). One study reported an inverse association between polypharmacy (as the exposure) and physical activity (as the outcome). None of the studies investigated the association between sedentary time and polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Limited evidence suggests an inverse association between physical activity and polypharmacy in older adults. However, the relationship between PIM use, physical activity, and sedentary time remains unknown. Longitudinal studies utilizing objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time are needed to better clarify the relationship between these movement behaviors and polypharmacy and/or PIM use in older adults.

Associations between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with vascular health phenotypes in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: We investigated the associations between physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with vascular health phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 82 participants (66.8 ± 5.2 years; 81% females). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed using accelerometers, and CRF was measured using the distance covered in the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The vascular health markers were as follows: i) arterial function measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) estimated using an automatic blood pressure device; and ii) arterial structure measured as the common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Using a combination of normal cIMT and aPWV values, four groups of vascular health phenotypes were created: normal aPWV and cIMT, abnormal aPWV only, abnormal cIMT only, and abnormal aPWV and cIMT. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the beta coefficients (ß) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusting for BMI, and medication for diabetes, lipid, and hypertension, sex, age, and blood pressure. Results: Participants with abnormal aPWV and normal cIMT (ß = -53.76; 95% CI = -97.73--9.78 m; p = 0.017), and participants with both abnormal aPWV and cIMT (ß = -71.89; 95% CI = -125.46--18.31 m; p = 0.009) covered less distance in the 6MWT, although adjusting for age, sex and blood pressure decreased the strength of the association with only groups of abnormal aPWV and cIMT covering a lower 6MWT distance compared to participants with both normal aPWV and cIMT (ß = -55.68 95% CI = -111.95-0.59; p = 0.052). No associations were observed between MVPA and the vascular health phenotypes. Conslusion: In summary, poor CRF, but not MVPA, is associated with the unhealthiest vascular health phenotype (abnormal aPWV/cIMT) in older adults.

Muscle Quality in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to map out currently available definitions and assessment methods of muscle quality in older adults. DESIGN: Scoping review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All available studies. METHODS: Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to May 2022. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were undertaken by 2 reviewers independently. Observational and experimental studies were eligible for inclusion if there was a clear description of muscle quality assessment in individuals aged 60+ years. RESULTS: A total of 96 articles were included. Several definitions and assessment methods of muscle quality were identified and divided into 2 main domains: (1) functional domain, and (2) morphological domain. A total of 70% and 30% of the included studies assessed muscle quality in the functional and morphological domains, respectively. In the functional domain, most studies defined muscle quality as the ratio of knee extension strength by leg lean mass (45.9%). In the morphological domain, most studies defined muscle quality as the echo intensity of quadriceps femoris by ultrasound (50.0%). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: There is a substantial heterogeneity of definitions and assessment methods of muscle quality in older adults. Herein, we propose a standardized definition of muscle quality to include terminology, domain, and assessment methods (tests, tools, and body sites). Such standardization may help researchers, clinicians, and decision makers use muscle quality as a potential marker of "skeletal muscle health" in older adults.

Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training Sessions With Different Work-Recovery Durations and Muscle Damage in Trained Men.

Purpose: This study compared the effect of low-volume high-intensity training (LV-HIIT) sessions with different work-recovery durations on muscle damage markers.Methods: Twenty-four trained adult males (22.3 ± 2.9 years; 24.6 ± 2.7 kg∙m-2) performed two LV-HIIT sessions (10 x 60 s and 20 x 30 s at 100% of maximal aerobic speed on treadmill (Vmax) interspersed with equal time passive recovery, respectively) in a randomized, counter-balanced order, separated by a 1-week interval. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and countermovement vertical jump height (CVJH) performance were assessed before, and 24-h and 48-h post sessions.Results: Pressure-pain threshold (PPT), pressure-pain tolerance (PPTol) and perceived pain intensity (PPI) using pressure algometry assessed DOMS in the rectus rectus femoris, biceps femoris and gastroctemius. A non-significant session by time interaction for PPT, PPTol and PPI in all muscles analyzed was observed (all P > 0.260). Additionally, a non-significant session by time interaction was observed for CVJH performance (P = 0.836).Conclusion: LV-HIIT sessions with different work-recovery durations elicited non-significant changes on muscle damage markers following 24- and 48-h in trained males.

Pre-Frailty Phenotype and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults Free of Cardiovascular Diseases.

PURPOSE: Arterial stiffness is a subclinical marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The pre-frailty phenotype is associated with a higher risk for CVD. This study investigated the association between the pre-frailty phenotype and arterial stiffness in community-dwelling older adults without diagnosed CVD. METHODS: In total, 249 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80 years were included in this cross-sectional study. The pre-frailty phenotype was defined by the standardized Fried criteria (muscle weakness; slow walking speed; low physical activity; unintentional weight loss; self-reported exhaustion). Participants with one or two standardized Fried criteria were classified as pre-frail and those with zero criteria as robust. Arterial stiffness was measured by aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV). The data were analyzed using the generalized linear model. RESULTS: From 249 participants (66.1 ± 5.3 years; 79.5% females), 61.8% (n = 154) were pre-frail and 38.2% (n = 95) robust. Pre-frail older adults had a higher aPWV (ß = 0.19 m/s; p = 0.007) compared to their robust peers. CONCLUSIONS: The pre-frailty phenotype was associated with higher arterial stiffness in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80 years. Pre-frail older adults may have a higher risk for CVD.

Daily step volume and intensity moderate the association of sedentary time and cardiometabolic disease risk in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the moderating effect of step count and peak cadence on the relationship of sedentary time and cardiometabolic disease risk in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 248 older adults aged 60-80 years without cardiovascular disease (66.0 ± 4.6 years of age; 78 % females). Sedentary time, step count and peak cadence were measured by a hip-worn accelerometer for seven days. Peak cadence was defined as the average of 30 min of the day (but not necessarily consecutive) with the highest cadence (steps per minute) for all valid days. Cardiometabolic disease risk was defined using a sex-specific continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS). Sedentary time was used as an explanatory variable for cMetS and step count and peak cadence as moderators. The analyses were adjusted for known cardiometabolic disease risk factors and accelerometer wear time. The Johnson-Neyman technique was used to specify the value of moderator variables at which the significant relationship between sedentary time and cMetS disappears. RESULTS: Both step count (ß = -0.186, P = 0.032) and peak cadence (ß = -0.003, P = 0.007) showed a moderating effect on the relationship of sedentary time and cMetS. The association of sedentary time and cMetS was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) when step count or peak cadence exceed 5715 steps per day and 57 steps per minute, respectively. CONCLUSION: Steps per day and peak cadence moderate the association of sedentary time and cardiometabolic disease risk in older adults. Therefore, steps per day and peak cadence seem to offset the deleterious effects of sedentary time on cardiometabolic health in this population.