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Simple Physical Activity Index Predicts Prognosis in Older Adults: Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

Frailty, which involves low physical activity (PA), is as a well-established factor of increased risk of hospitalization, disability, and mortality. To date, there are no specific tools to assess PA among Chinese elderly. As part of the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), we aimed to develop the BLSA Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (BLSA-PAQ) and assess its prediction of mortality.

Design

Longitudinal study.

Setting

Community.

Participants

1810 Chinese older adults completed the BLSA-PAQ questionnaire.

Measurements

BLSA-PAQ questionnaire containing four items: walking, outdoor chores, low-intensity exercise, and moderate-intensity exercise. Physical function was assessed through the balance test, chair-stand test, and the activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Frailty was evaluated using a modified frailty phenotype and frailty index.

Results

The following equation was obtained based on the 8-year mortality for the four BLSA-PAQ components: BLSA-PAQ index (BLSA-PAQ total score) = Walking score + Outdoor chores score + 2 × (low-intensity exercise score) + 3 × (moderate-intensity exercise score). The BLSA-PAQ index decreased with age, and was negatively related to modified frailty phenotype score and frailty index. Low PA and pre-low PA statuses were associated with poorer results in the balance and chair-stand tests, ADL dependency, IADL dependency, and frailty. After adjusting for age and gender, the 8-year mortality HRs were 1.453 (95% CI, 1.166-1.811) and 2.358 (95% CI, 1.856-2.995) for low PA and pre-low PA, respectively. Low PA defined by the BLSA-PAQ index was associated with frailty, disability, worse physical function, and higher mortality.

Conclusion

The BLSA-PAQ seems to be a reliable tool to measure PA in Chinese older adults. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and validate the use of the BLSA-PAQ for frailty assessments of older adults.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Lina Ma and Jieyu Wang contributed equally to the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Geriatric Healthcare Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Key Laboratory on Neurodegenerative Disease of Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100053, China

    Lina Ma & Zhe Tang

  2. Department of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Beijing, 100053, China

    Lina Ma, Jieyu Wang & P. Chan

  3. Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China

    Zhe Tang & P. Chan

  4. Department of Neurology and Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China

    P. Chan

  5. Beijing Geriatric Healthcare Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, #45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China

    Zhe Tang

Authors
  1. Lina Ma
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  4. P. Chan
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Correspondence to Zhe Tang.

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Ma, L., Wang, J., Tang, Z. et al. Simple Physical Activity Index Predicts Prognosis in Older Adults: Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging. J Nutr Health Aging 22, 854–860 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1037-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1037-1

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