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.

Association of daily step volume and intensity with cardiometabolic risk in older adults.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association of daily step volume and intensity with cardiometabolic risk in older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 248 community-dwelling older adults (66.0 ± 4.6 years; 78 % females). The daily step volume and intensity were assessed using accelerometry. Cardiometabolic risk was defined using a continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS). The participants were categorized according to their daily step volume (inactive <5000; low active 5000-7499; active 7500-9999; highly active 10,000+ steps/day), and intensity (peak 30-min cadence; lowest, < 40; low, 40-59; average, 60-79; high, 80-99; highest, 100+ steps/min). Generalized linear models were used for data analyses. RESULTS: The active (ß = -0.29, p = 0.040) and the highly active (ß = -0.40, p = 0.026) groups had lower cMetS compared to the inactive group. No significant difference was found between the low active and inactive groups (ß = -0.21, p = 0.098). Every increment of 1000 steps/day was associated with a decrease of 0.06 in cMetS (p < 0.001). The average (ß = -0.37, p = 0.028), high (ß = -0.42, p = 0.015), and highest (ß = -0.81, p = 0.001) groups had lower cMetS than the lowest group. No significant difference was observed between the low and lowest groups (ß = -0.22, p = 0.192). Every increment of 10 steps/min in the peak 30-min cadence was associated with a decrease of 0.07 in cMetS (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Daily step volume and intensity were inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk in community-dwelling older adults in a dose-response manner.

Life-Space Mobility and Objectively Measured Movement Behavior in Older Adults with Hypertension after Receiving COVID-19 Vaccination.

This study examined the changes in life-space (LS) mobility and objectively measured movement behavior in older adults with hypertension after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and their associations with housing type. A total of 32 participants were included in this exploratory longitudinal study with a 1-year follow-up. LS mobility and accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed before and ~2 months after receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Participants residing in apartment/row housing showed an increase in LS mobility composite score (ß = 14, p < 0.05). In addition, they showed an increase in light PA on weekdays and the weekend (ß = 3.5%; ß = 6.5%; p < 0.05) and a decrease in SB on weekdays and the weekend (ß = -3.7%; ß = -6.6%; p < 0.05). Furthermore, changes in SB pattern were found (less time spent in bouts of ≥10 and 30 min, more breaks/day and breaks/hour). Significant associations were found between changes in LS mobility composite score and PA (positive association) and SB (negative association) in older adults residing in apartment/row housing (p < 0.05). Older adults with hypertension, particularly those who resided in houses with limited outdoor space (apartment/row housing), showed positive changes in LS mobility and objectively measured movement behavior in a period after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and characterized by social distancing policies without mobility restrictions when compared with the period of social distancing policies with high mobility restrictions and without vaccine.