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Associations between levels of physical activity and mortality in older adults: a prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Background

Research using objectively measured physical activity (PA) in older adults to assess relationship between PA levels and mortality is scarce.

Objective

To investigate associations between level of physical activity and mortality in older adults over a 4-year period.

Methods

The population-based cohort study was carried out including 554 older participants (mean age: 76.2 ± 8.05 years) using data from the SABE study (Health, well-being and aging). Levels of physical activity were measured using accelerometers and participants were divided into tertiles and then categorized into two groups: (I) low level of physical activity and (II) intermediate/high level of physical activity. The dependent variable was mortality between 2010 and 2014. Control variables included socio-demographic and clinical factors. Multiple regression analysis was used from a hierarchical model, grou** the variables into two blocks ordered according to the magnitude of their effect.

Results

Our results showed that mortality rate in participants with low level of physical activity was 20/1000 person/year and for those with intermediate/high levels of physical activity was 14/1000 person/year. In the adjusted model, by sociodemographic and clinical variables, those with low levels of physical activity presented a higher risk for mortality (OR = 2.79, 95%CI = 1.71–4.57) when compared to individuals with intermediate/high levels of physical activity.

Conclusion

Older adults with low levels of physical activity have a higher chance of mortality as compared to those with intermediate/high levels of physical activity, regardless of sociodemographic and clinical variables.

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Igor Conterato Gomes

  2. Laboratory of Hormone Measurement, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Vagner Deuel de O. Tavares

  3. Research Group in Biomechanics (GEBIO), Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Leônidas Oliveira Neto

  4. Department of Physical Education, University Maurício de Nassau, Natal, Brazil

    Pedro Moraes Dutra Agrícola

  5. Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand

    Matthew Jenkins

  6. The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK

    Lee Smith

  7. Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira Duarte

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  1. Igor Conterato Gomes
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Correspondence to Vagner Deuel de O. Tavares.

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This research was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees for human experimentation and with the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 (ethical approval in committee of USP on number 2044). All participants provided a written consent prior to their participation.

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Gomes, I.C., Tavares, V.D.O., Oliveira Neto, L. et al. Associations between levels of physical activity and mortality in older adults: a prospective cohort study. Sport Sci Health 18, 1061–1070 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00891-z

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