title: Physical activity and incidence of sarcopenia: the population-based AGES-Reykjavik Study.
abstract: the prevalence of sarcopenia increases with age. Physical activity might slow the rate of muscle loss and therewith the incidence of sarcopenia.
  
  
  
  to examine the association of physical activity with incident sarcopenia over a 5-year period.
  
  
  
  data from the population-based Age, Gene/Environment, Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study were used.
  
  
  
  people residing in the Reykjavik area at the start of the study.
  
  
  
  the study included people aged 66-93 years (n = 2309).
  
  
  
  the amount of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. Sarcopenia was identified using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People algorithm, including muscle mass (computed tomography imaging), grip strength (computerised dynamometer) and gait speed (6 m).
  
  
  
  mean age of the participants was 74.9 ± 4.7 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 7.3% at baseline and 16.8% at follow-up. The incidence proportion of sarcopenia over 5 years was 14.8% in the least-active individuals and 9.0% in the most-active individuals. Compared with the least-active participants, those reporting a moderate-high amount of MVPA had a significantly lower likelihood of incident sarcopenia (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.91). Participants with a high amount of MVPA had higher baseline levels of muscle mass, strength and walking speed, but baseline MVPA was not associated with the rate of muscle loss.
  
  
  
  a higher amount of MVPA seems to contribute to counteracting the development of sarcopenia. To delay the onset of sarcopenia and its potential adverse outcomes, attention should be paid to increasing physical activity levels in older adults.
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI/Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands d.mijnarends@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Donja M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mijnarends
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI/Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI/Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands CAPHRI/Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos M G A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schols
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI/Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith M M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI/Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruud J G
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Halfens
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors.forename: Vilmundur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gudnason
authors.affiliation: Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors.forename: Gudny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eiriksdottir
authors.affiliation: Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siggeirsdottir
authors.affiliation: Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors.forename: Sigurdur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Department of Geriatrics, Landspitali National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Pálmi V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Jónsson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Osorio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: EWGSOP; incidence proportion; older people; physical activity; sarcopenia