Time Spent Sitting Is Associated with Changes in Biomarkers of Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

Effects of Physical Activity Level on Attentional Networks in Young Adults

Although physical activity is associated with better attentional functioning in elderly populations or in specific clinical populations, the association between physical activity level and attention has been less studied in young adult populations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the positive effects of physical activity on attentional networks extend to young adults. In total, 57 college students were recruited and assigned to one of three groups of physical activity levels (high, moderate, and low) based on their self-reported exercise. Each participant completed the Attention Network Test to evaluate the efficiency of three components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive control. Compared with the low physical activity group, both the high and moderate physical activity groups exhibited better executive control. In addition, the efficiency of the executive control network was positively correlated with physical activity. By contrast, no statistically significant differences were detected among these three groups for the functioning of the alerting or orienting networks. These findings suggested that physical activity had a positive effect on attention in young adults, with the benefit primarily observed for the executive control component rather than for the alerting and orienting components of attention.

Frailty among inpatients with Schizophrenia: Status, influencing factors, and their correlation with quality of life

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to understand frailty and its influencing factors in inpatients with Schizophrenia in Chengdu and to explore correlations between frailty and quality of life.

METHODS

From May to July 2022, inpatients with Schizophrenia were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, frailty phenotype (FP) scoring, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the SZ Quality of Life Scale (SQLS). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess factors influencing frailty and multivariate linear regression was conducted to assess the factors influencing quality of life.

RESULTS

A total of 556 hospitalized patients with Schizophrenia were included and divided into three groups according to the degree of frailty, of which 153 cases (27.5%) were without frailty, 348 cases (62.6%) were in early frailty, and 55 cases (9.9%) were in frailty. Univariate analysis of age, history of falls during hospitalization, polypharmacy, compulsory treatment during hospitalization, self-reported health status, activity level, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, "psychology and society," "motivation and energy" and "symptoms and side-effects" showed statistically significant differences between the groups. Multinomial logistic regression showed that age, BMI, self-reported health, activity, cognitive impairment, motivation and energy, and symptoms and side-effects were influencing factors for frailty in hospitalized patients with Schizophrenia. Correlation analysis shows that frailty score positively correlated with SQLS score.

CONCLUSION

We found that frailty was prevalent and that frailty was positively correlated with SQLS scores in inpatients with Schizophrenia. To effectively manage the frailty of hospitalized patients with Schizophrenia, medical staff should pay attention to its influencing factors and quality of life.

Association between frailty syndrome and sedentary behavior among community-dwelling older adults in the Amazon region: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Existence of an association between sedentary behavior and frailty among older adults has been suggested. However, there is a lack of studies conducted in Brazil, especially in areas of the Amazon region.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between frailty syndrome and sedentary behavior among community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study carried out in Macapá, state of Amapá, Brazil.

METHODS

Frailty status was assessed using Fried's frailty phenotype, and sedentary behavior was evaluated using two questions concerning time spent in a seated position, from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A multinomial logistic regression model was used to verify the association between frailty syndrome and sedentary behavior.

RESULTS

The final study sample was made up of 411 older adults with a mean age of 70.14 ± 7.25 years and an average daily duration of sedentary behavior of 2.86 ± 2.53 hours. The prevalence of non-frailty was 28.7%, prevalence of pre-frailty was 58.4% and prevalence of frailty was 12.9%. The adjusted analysis showed that there were independent associations between sedentary behavior and pre-frailty (odds ratio, OR = 1.18; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03-1.34) and between sedentary behavior and frailty (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02-1.40).

CONCLUSION

Frailty and pre-frailty status were associated with sedentary behavior among community-dwelling older adults.

The Length and Number of Sedentary Bouts Predict Fibrinogen Levels in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause is associated with adverse changes in coagulation homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the association between objectively measured sedentary behavior (SB) and SB bouts (i.e., number and length of SB bouts) vs. fibrinogen levels in post-menopausal women. Fifty-three post-menopausal women (age 59.8 ± 6.2 years, BMI 27.3 ± 4.4) wore a multisensory device (Sensewear Mini Armband, BodyMedia, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA) for 5 days, to measure SB and physical activity (PA). Blood samples were collected to measure serum fibrinogen. Fibrinogen was directly correlated with SB (r = −0.48, p < 0.01), lying down during awake time (r = −0.50, p < 0.01), and both medium (11–30 mins) and very long bouts (>1 h) of SB (r = −0.59, p < 0.01; r = −0.51, p < 0.01, respectively), and inversely correlated with moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity (r = −0.39, p < 0.01). Furthermore, fibrinogen was also directly correlated with BMI (r = −0.28, p < 0.05). In postmenopausal women without prevalent cardiovascular disease, the number of prolonged and uninterrupted sedentary bouts is directly correlated with increased fibrinogen levels, regardless of PA and BMI. This result suggests the importance of delivering new strategies to counteract the increase of sedentariness and inactivity of the postmenopausal population.

Impact of Self-Reported Sitting Time and Transtheoretical Model Based on Exercise Behavior Change on Glycemic and Weight Control in Japanese Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations among self-reported sitting time (ST), transtheoretical model (TTM) based on exercise behavior change, and glycemic and weight control in Japanese adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Forty-two adults (age, 44.0 (33.3–56.8) years) with uncomplicated T1D answered questions regarding their lifestyles, including ST per day, and TTM using self-administered questionnaires. The glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level correlated with age and ST (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively), whereas body mass index correlated with duration of T1D and TTM (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that poor glycemic control (HbA1c, >7%) was associated with ST (odds ratio, 3.53 (95% confidence interval, 1.54–8.11), p < 0.01). In addition, the cut-off points for quartiles of ST were 4.6, 6.0, and 8.0 h/day, and the HbA1c level in the lowest quartile was 15% lower than that in the highest quartile (p < 0.01). Although further studies with larger samples are needed, these results implied that expanded self-reported ST might be related to poor glycemic control in Japanese T1D adults, most of whom were lean, young and middle-aged, regardless of TTM based on exercise behavior change.

Frailty as the basis for physiotherapeutic procedures for 65+ patients

Introduction: The frailty syndrome (FS) is a syndrome of functional limitations related to the older age, and its specificity, as well as the scale of occurrence, justify the need for its description and ordering of knowledge in this area. Aim: The aim of the literature review is to systematize knowledge in the field of individual descriptive elements of FS and rehabilitation dedicated to FS. Material and metods: The publication is a review and systematizes research material in the field of syndrome frailty. The narrative review was based on the analysis of publications contained in the Pubmed database in the period 2012-2017 and Polish sources published in this period. The sources were selected in accordance with the purpose of the work. Results: The frailty syndrome is defined and defined in various ways, although the main reference refers to its first description, formulated by L. Fried et al. There are three main phenotypes of the weakness group, classified based on the criteria of the creators of this team. Different scales are used in diagnostics: CHS, FRAIL, ESF, as well as GFI, TFI and PLFI indicators. The frailty syndrome develops based on the causes and effects of the so-called a cascade of weaknesses, among them chronic inflammatory processes, sarcopenia and immunological changes are of key importance. Recommended physiotherapy regimens cover various cycles and types of physical activity, with the use of a 12-week program of exercises of various types most often emphasized. Conclusions: Frailty is a state of exhaustion of reserves and functional limitations of the older age, also referred to as a team of weakness, frailty and fragility. Most reports confirm the use and usefulness of the CHS scale. Lack of unambiguous physiotherapy regimens for FS. Article received: 04.01.2019; Accepted: 16.07.2019 Key words: frailty, weakness syndrome, exhaustion syndrome, the elderly, rehabilitation

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.

Association of 12-Year Trajectories of Sitting Time With Frailty in Middle-Aged Women

Prolonged sitting time is associated with several health outcomes; limited evidence indicates associations with frailty. Our aims in this study were to identify patterns of sitting time over 12 years in middle-aged (ages 50-55 years) women and examine associations of these patterns with frailty in older age. We examined 5,462 women born in 1946-1951 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health who provided information on sociodemographic attributes, daily sitting time, and frailty in 2001 and then again every 3 years until 2013. Frailty was assessed using the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, loss of weight) scale (0 = healthy; 1-2 = prefrail; 3-5 = frail), and group-based trajectory analyses identified trajectories of sitting time. We identified 5 sitting-time trajectories: low (26.9%), medium (43.1%; referent), increasing (6.9%), decreasing (18.1%), and high (4.8%). In adjusted models, the likelihoods of being frail were statistically higher for women in the increasing (odds ratio (OR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.61) and high (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.84) trajectories. In contrast, women in the low trajectory group were less likely to be frail (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.98), and there was no difference in the likelihood of frailty in the decreasing trajectory group. Our study suggests that patterns of sitting time over 12 years in middle-aged women predict frailty in older age.

Time Spent in Sedentary Behaviour as Discriminant Criterion for Frailty in Older Adults

This paper aims to analyse whether time spent in sedentary behaviour was a discriminant criterion for frailty in older adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 457 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years. Frailty was defined as the presence of three or more of the following criteria: Unintentional weight loss, low walking speed at a 4.57 m course, reduced manual grip strength, exhaustion and insufficient physical activity level. Participants were classified into two groups: Non-frail or frail. Exposure to sedentary behaviour was assessed by the time spent sitting during a typical week, according to the adapted version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive (mean, frequency) and inferential statistics (Poisson regression, Pearson’s Chi-square, Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve) were used to analyse the data, comparing them to the time-related areas exposed to sedentary behaviour by gender and the presence of fragility. The prevalence of frailty was 22.1% (n = 101). The most accurate cut-off points of sitting time for predicting frailty were >495 min/day (men) or >536 min/day (women). Time spent in sedentary behaviour can be used to indicate fragility in the elderly of both sexes.