Physical Activity across Frailty Phenotypes in Females with Parkinson’s Disease

Kaitlyn P Roland,Olga Theou,Jennifer M Jakobi,Kayla M D Cornett,Gareth R Jones

doi:10.1155/2012/468156

Abstract

Females with Parkinson's disease (PD) are vulnerable to frailty. PD eventually leads to decreased physical activity, an indicator of frailty. We speculate PD results in frailty through reduced physical activity. Objective. Determine the contribution of physical activity on frailty in PD (n = 15, 65 ± 9 years) and non-PD (n = 15, 73 ± 14 years) females. Methods. Frailty phenotype (nonfrail/prefrail/frail) was categorized and 8 hours of physical activity was measured using accelerometer, global positioning system, and self-report. Two-way ANCOVA (age as covariate) was used to compare physical activity between disease and frailty phenotypes. Spearman correlation assessed relationships, and linear regression determined associations with frailty. Results. Nonfrail recorded more physical activity (intensity, counts, self-report) compared with frail. Self-reported physical activity was greater in PD than non-PD. In non-PD, step counts, light physical activity time, sedentary time, and self-reported physical activity were related to frailty (R = 0.91). In PD, only carbidopa-levodopa dose was related to frailty (r = 0.61). Conclusion. Physical activity influences frailty in females without PD. In PD females, disease management may be a better indicator of frailty than physical activity. Further investigation into how PD associated factors contribute to frailty is warranted.

Highlights

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that results in an increased vulnerability to acute and chronic illness, falls and related injuries, and a general loss of functional independence [1,2,3,4]
Higher self-reported physical activity was reported in Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with non-PD, the other physical activity variables did not differ between disease groups (Table 2)
Results of this study demonstrate physical activity was not related to frailty phenotype in this sample group of females with PD; lower daily physical activity was associated with increased frailty severity in non-PD females

Summary

Introduction

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that results in an increased vulnerability to acute and chronic illness, falls and related injuries, and a general loss of functional independence [1,2,3,4]. Females experience increased frailty severity than males since they live longer and spend a greater proportion of life managing disability and disease [7,8,9]. Females with PD are typically older [12], cite greater disability [13] and experience more difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADL) than males with PD [14, 15]. Recent evidence suggests that of the five CHSfi criteria, self-reported exhaustion best determines frailty phenotype in females with PD [10]. Exhaustion is a common complaint among older females, especially those with PD, and is strongly associated with inhibiting physical activity and ADL participation [16,17,18].

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Discussion

Conclusion