Large-Scale Assessment of Health-Related Physical Fitness in French Older Adults: Feasibility and Validity

A novel estimate of biological aging by multiple fitness tests is associated with risk scores for age-related diseases

Introduction: Recent research highlights the need for a correct instrument for monitoring the individual health status, especially in the elderly. Different definitions of biological aging have been proposed, with a consistent positive association of physical activity and physical fitness with decelerated aging trajectories. The six-minute walking test is considered the current gold standard for estimating the individual fitness status in the elderly. Methods: In this study, we investigated the possibility of overcoming the main limitations of assessing fitness status based on a single measure. As a result, we developed a novel measure of fitness status based on multiple fitness tests. In 176 Sardinian individuals aged 51-80 years we collected the results of eight fitness tests to measure participants' functional mobility, gait, aerobic condition, endurance, upper and lower limb strength, and static and dynamic balance. In addition, the participants' state of health was estimated through validated risk scores for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mortality, and a comorbidity index. Results: Six measures contributing to fitness age were extracted, with TUG showing the largest contribution (beta = 2.23 SDs), followed by handgrip strength (beta = -1.98 SDs) and 6MWT distance (beta = -1.11 SDs). Based on fitness age estimates, we developed a biological aging measure using an elastic net model regression as a linear combination of the results of the fitness tests described above. Our newly developed biomarker was significantly associated with risk scores for cardiovascular events (ACC-AHA: r = 0.61; p = 0.0006; MESA: r = 0.21; p = 0.002) and mortality (Levine mortality score: r = 0.90; p = 0.0002) and outperformed the previous definition of fitness status based on the six-minute walking test in predicting an individual health status. Discussion: Our results indicate that a composite measure of biological age based on multiple fitness tests may be helpful for screening and monitoring strategies in clinical practice. However, additional studies are needed to test standardisation and to calibrate and validate the present results.

Validity and reliability of the measurement instrument of the nursing outcome health-related Physical Fitness (2004), proposed and transculturally adapted to the Spanish context

BACKGROUND

Presently, physical inactivity is the main public health problem in many countries worldwide. Physical activity promotes the maintenance or improvement of one's physical condition. Physical fitness has been established as the main biological marker of the state of health of an individual, and therefore, there is a clear need to measure health-related physical fitness through the use of a reliable and valid instrument. This study is a continuation of the transcultural adaptation process and a new proposal of the nursing outcome Physical Fitness (2004), found in the 5^th Edition of the Nursing Outcomes Classification. The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the nursing outcome Health-Related Physical Fitness survey, proposed and transculturally adapted to the Spanish context.

METHODS

An instrumental study to validate the nursing outcome Physical Fitness (2004), from the 5^th Edition of the Nursing Outcome Classification was carried out. It took place between the months of May, 2016 to May, 2017. On the first stage, the instrument proposed Health-Related Physical Fitness survey was administered to 160 adults who used the Health Services of Murcia, Spain by three independent evaluators. After 4 weeks, it was administered again to 33 participants to calculate the intra-rater reliability. Lastly, the SF-12v2 Health Survey was administered to obtain external evidence of validity.

RESULTS

The inter-rater reliability of the nursing outcome proposed obtained high values (between 0.91-0.99) in the evaluations performed by the three evaluators. As for the intra-rater reliability, high values were obtained (0.94-1), except for the item "balance", which was moderate (0.56). Lastly, a positive and statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) was obtained between the Physical Component Summary, and the dimensions Physical Functioning and General Health from the SF-12v2 Health Survey, and the global score of the Health-Related Physical Fitness proposed instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

The validity and reliability results of the nursing outcome Health-Related Physical Fitness survey, proposed and transculturally adapted to the Spanish context, were adequate for its use by nurses with adults who use the Health Services of Murcia. However, this instrument must be analyzed with more diverse samples of health services users.