Patterns of 12-year change in physical activity levels in community-dwelling older women: can modest levels of physical activity help older women live longer?

Qian Li Xue, Karen Bandeen-Roche, Thelma J. Mielenz, Christopher L. Seplaki, Sarah L. Szanton, Roland J. Thorpe, Rita R. Kalyani, Paulo H.M. Chaves, Thuy Tien L. Dam, Katherine Ornstein, Arindam RoyChoudhury, Ravi Varadhan, Wenliang Yao, Linda P. Fried

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Few studies have addressed changes in physical activity participation over time among the elderly. The authors hypothesized that there were distinct trajectories of physical activity level over time and identifiable predictors of such trajectories, as well as that the maintenance of regular physical activity, even below recommended levels, was associated with lower mortality risk. Using longitudinal data (1994-2009) from 433 initially high-functioning older women aged 70-79 years at baseline, a joint latent class and survival mixture model identified 4 activity trajectory classes: always active (16.6%), fast declining (19.2%), stable moderate (32.3%), and always sedentary (31.9%). Obesity, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depressive symptoms, low self-efficacy, mobility disability, and low energy were associated with sedentary behavior and/or a fast decline in activity. Women in the fast declining and always sedentary classes had hazard ratios for death of 2.34 (95% confidence interval: 1.20, 4.59) and 3.34 (95% confidence interval: 1.72, 6.47), respectively, compared with the always active class; no mortality difference was found between the stable moderate and always active groups (hazard ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 0.63, 2.47). Our findings suggest that physical activity does not have to be vigorous to be beneficial and that the gain may be the greatest among women who reported the lowest levels of activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)534-543
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican journal of epidemiology
Volume176
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Patterns of 12-year change in physical activity levels in community-dwelling older women: can modest levels of physical activity help older women live longer?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this