Associations Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity, Body Composition and Sarcopenia: Findings from the Hertfordshire Sarcopenia Study (HSS)

Leo D Westbury,Holly E Syddall,Cyrus Cooper,Alicja M Baczynska,Harnish P Patel,Helen C Roberts,Richard M Dodds,Sarah C Shaw,Elaine M Dennison,Avan Aihie Sayer

doi:10.1007/s00223-018-0413-5

Abstract

Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced risk of the development and progression of musculoskeletal, metabolic and vascular disease. However, PA declines with age and this can contribute to multiple adverse outcomes. The aims of this study were to describe the relationship between accelerometer-determined PA, body composition and sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass and function with age). Seven-day PA was measured using the GENEactiv accelerometer among 32 men and 99 women aged 74–84 years who participated in the Hertfordshire Sarcopenia Study. We measured mean daily acceleration and minutes/day spent in non-sedentary and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle strength by grip dynamometry and function by gait speed. Sarcopenia was defined according to the EWGSOP diagnostic algorithm. Men and women spent a median (inter-quartile range) of 138.8 (82, 217) and 186 (122, 240) minutes/day engaging in non-sedentary activity but only 14.3 (1.8, 30.2) and 9.5 (2.1, 18.6) min in MVPA, respectively. Higher levels of PA were associated with reduced adiposity, faster walking speed and decreased risk of sarcopenia. For example, a standard deviation (SD) increase in mean daily acceleration was associated with an increase in walking speed of 0.25 (95% CI 0.05, 0.45) SDs and a reduction in the risk of sarcopenia of 35% (95% CI 1, 57%) in fully adjusted analyses. PA was not associated with hand grip strength. Community-dwelling older adults in this study were largely sedentary but there was evidence that higher levels of activity were associated with reduced adiposity and improved function. PA at all intensity levels in later life may help maintain physical function and protect against sarcopenia.

Highlights

Sarcopenia is associated with a broad array of adverse physical, metabolic and health-related changes such as reduced mobility, falls, fractures, diabetes, poorer health-related quality of life and death [1, 2]
In this study of community-dwelling older men and women, we have shown that a higher level of objectively measured Physical activity (PA) was associated with reduced adiposity, increased function and decreased risk of sarcopenia
Older men and women in this study only spent a median of 14 and 10 min a day engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, respectively, falling significantly short of the WHO’s recommendation of at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week for a sustained health benefit [27]

Summary

Introduction

Sarcopenia is associated with a broad array of adverse physical, metabolic and health-related changes such as reduced mobility, falls, fractures, diabetes, poorer health-related quality of life and death [1, 2]. Extended author information available on the last page of the article sports, gym work, dancing or gardening has been associated with a reduction in the risk of development, or progression, of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, type II diabetes, cognitive decline, obesity, falls and fractures [4,5,6]. In conjunction with other personal, social and environmental factors (such as access to food and social isolation), a decline in physical activity can create a spiral of further inactivity, muscle loss, weight gain, mobility disability and an increase in cardio-metabolic risk [8, 9]. Measurement and monitoring of PA and improved understanding of its associations with health outcomes are important to inform public health policy

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