Physical activity prevented functional decline among frail community-living elderly subjects in an international observational study.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were to describe the prevalence of physical activity in a sample of older adults in home care in Europe and to examine the relationship between physical activity and incident disability.


METHODS
Study population consisted of a random sample of 2,005 subjects aged 65 or older admitted to home care programs in 11 European Home Health Agencies who participated in AgeD in HOme Care project. Participants who reported spending 2 or more hours of physical activities in last 3 days were defined physically active. Disability performing activities of daily living was defined as the need of assistance in one or more of the following ADL: eating, dressing, transferring, mobility in bed, personal hygiene, and toileting.


RESULTS
More than 50% of participants were physically active. During a median follow-up of 12 months, 370 subjects (15%) became disabled. After adjusting for age, gender, and other possible confounding variables, active subjects were significantly less likely to become disabled compared to those reporting no or very low-intensity physical activity (OR, 0.67; 95% CI 0.53-0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the possibility that physical activity has an independent effect on functional autonomy among frail and old people.
Landi
Francesco
F
Department of Gerontology-Geriatric, Catholic University Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. francesco_landi@rm.unicatt.it
Onder
Graziano
G
Carpenter
Iain
I
Cesari
Matteo
M
Soldato
Manuel
M
Bernabei
Roberto
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D005082:Physical Exertion; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution