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Introduction: Concurrent training has been shown to be a beneficial approach to improve overall health status in older adults. However, little is known about the adaptations of this type of training in the long term (i.e., after cessation of exercise), even less in older people affected by frailty syndrome. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to assess the effects of a 6-week concurrent training program composed of power-oriented resistance training and fast walking interval training on physical function, muscle power, disability in activities of daily living and frailty in pre-frail and frail older people, and (ii) to assess the effects of a 6-month detraining period on these outcomes. Methods: A total of 59 pre-frail and frail older adults (>75 years old; Frailty Phenotype >1) were allocated into intervention (INT; n = 32; 81.8 years; 21 women) or control (CON; n = 27; 82.5 years; 19 women) groups. Primary outcomes of this study were Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), relative sit-to-stand (STS) power, Barthel index, Lawton scale and Frailty Phenotype. Assessments were performed at baseline (PRE), after the concurrent training programme (POST) and after 6 months of follow-up (DET) in both groups. Mixed model repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc tests was used. Results: Immediately after the intervention (∆ = POST-PRE), INT improved SPPB (∆ = 3.0 points; p < 0.001), relative STS power (∆ = 0.87 W·kg−1; p < 0.001) and reduced their frailty levels (∆ = −1.42 criteria; p < 0.001), while no changes were observed in CON. After 6 months of detraining (∆ = DET-PRE), INT showed higher SPPB (∆ = 2.2 points; p < 0.001), higher relative STS power (∆ = 0.73 W·kg−1; p < 0.001) and lower frailty (∆ = −1.24 criteria; p < 0.001) values than those reported at baseline, which were significantly different than those reported by CON. Both, Barthel index and Lawton scale values were not modified during the study in either group. Conclusions: The 6-week concurrent training program improved physical function, muscle power and reduced frailty in pre-frail and frail older people and these improvements were maintained above baseline levels after 6 months of detraining. However, due to the individual variability found, future studies of long-term responders versus non-responders in frail populations are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the residual effects of a 12‐week concurrent training program (power training + high‐intensity interval training) in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A total of 21 older adults with COPD [intervention (INT), n = 8; control (CON), n = 13; 76.9 ± 6.8 years] were assessed at baseline and 10 months after the completion of the intervention by the short physical performance battery (SPPB), health‐related quality of life (EQ‐5D‐5L), vastus lateralis muscle thickness (MT), peak pulmonary oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and peak work rate (Wpeak), early and late isometric rate of force development (RFD), leg and chest press maximum muscle power (LPmax and CPmax), and systemic oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity. Results: Compared to baseline, after 10 months of detraining, the INT group presented increased SPPB (∆ = 1.0 point), health‐related quality of life (∆ = 0.07 points), early RFD (∆ = 834 N∙s−1), LPmax (∆ = 62.2 W), and CPmax (∆ = 16.0 W) (all p < 0.05). In addition, a positive effect was noted in INT compared to CON regarding MT and Wpeak (both p < 0.05). No between‐group differences were reported in peak VO2, late RFD, systemic oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity from baseline to 10 months after the completion of the intervention (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Twelve weeks of concurrent training were enough to ensure improved physical function, health‐related quality of life, early RFD and maximum muscle power and to preserve MT and Wpeak but not peak VO2, late RFD, systemic oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity in the subsequent 10 months of detraining in older adults with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the Cosmed K5 portable indirect calorimeter, using the mixing chamber mode and face mask, with a stationary metabolic cart when measuring the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and to derive fitting equations if discrepancies are observed. Forty‐three adults (18–84 years) were assessed for their RMR for two 30‐min consecutive and counterbalanced periods using a Cosmed K5 and an Oxycon Pro. Differences among devices were tested using paired sample Student's t‐tests, and correlation and agreement were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plots. Forward stepwise multiple linear regression models were performed to develop fitting equations for estimating differences among devices when assessing oxygen uptake (VO2diff, mL·min−1) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2diff, mL·min−1). Furthermore, the Oxycon Pro was tested before being confirmed as a reference device. Significant differences between devices were found in most metabolic and ventilatory parameters, including the primary outcomes of VO2 and VCO2. These differences showed an overestimation of the Cosmed K5 in all metabolic outcomes, except for Fat, when compared to the Oxycon Pro. When derived fitting equations were applied (VO2diff − 139.210 + 0.786 [weight, kg] + 1.761 [height, cm] – 0.941 [Cosmed K5 VO2, mL·min−1]; VCO2diff − 86.569 + 0.548 [weight, kg] + 0.915 [height, cm] – 0.728 [Cosmed K5 VCO2, mL·min−1]), differences were minimized, and agreement was maximized. This study provides fitting equations which allow the use of the Cosmed K5 for reasonably optimal RMR determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lower-limb muscle power with mortality and hospitalization.Methods: A total of 1 928 participants from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging were included. Muscle power was assessed with the 5-repetition sit-to-stand test and participants were classified into different groups of relative power (ie, normalized to body mass) according to sex-specific tertiles and their inability to perform the test. Mean follow-up periods for hospitalization and all-cause mortality were 3.3 and 6.3 years, respectively.Results: Compared to the high relative muscle power group, men with low (HR [95% CI] = 2.1 [1.2-3.6]) and women with very low and low (HR [95% CI] = 4.7 [3.0-7.4] and 1.8 [1.2-2.7]) relative power had an increased age-adjusted risk of hospitalization. After adjusting for several covariates (age, physical activity, body mass index education, depression, comorbidities, disability, and handgrip strength), these effects were attenuated (men and women with very low relative power: HR [95% CI] = 1.6 [0.9-2.9] and 2.8 [1.6-4.9]). The very low relative muscle power group had also an increased all-cause mortality risk (age-adjusted) in both men and women (HR [95% CI] = 2.3 [1.4-3.9] and 2.9 [1.6-5.3]). After adjusting for all the covariates, a significantly increased mortality risk was observed only in men (HR [95% CI] = 2.1 [1.1-3.8]; women HR [95% CI] = 1.6 [0.8-3.2]), with very low levels of relative power.Conclusions: Relative muscle power was independently and negatively associated with mortality and hospitalization in older adults. An augmented all-cause mortality risk was noted in the lowest group of relative muscle power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cognitive decline and dementia are associated with disability and premature death in old age. We examined whether low handgrip strength predicts subsequent cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans. Methods. We worked with a 7-year prospective cohort of 2160 noninstitutionalized Mexican Americans aged 65 years or older from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) who had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score [greater than or equal to] 21 at baseline. Measures included: (i) sociodemographic factors (age, gender, and education), handgrip strength, and near and distant visual impairment from baseline interview; and (ii) MMSE, body mass index (BMI), and medical conditions (stroke, heart attack, diabetes, depression, and hypertension) from four waves of data collection. Results. Using general linear mixed models, we found a significant trend with scores in the lowest quartile of handgrip strength at baseline to be associated with lower MMSE scores over time (estimate = -1.28, standard error = 0.16; p < .0001). There was a significant handgrip Strength-by-Time interaction with MMSE scores. Participants in the lowest handgrip strength quartile had a greater cognitive decline over time (estimate = -0.26, standard error = 0.07; p < .001) than did those participants in the highest quartile. This association remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors. Conclusion. Older Mexican Americans with reduced handgrip strength at baseline demonstrated a statistically significant decline in cognitive function over a 7-year period. By contrast, participants in the highest handgrip strength quartile maintained a higher level of cognitive function.

This study aimed to compare the Cosmed K5 portable indirect calorimeter, using the mixing chamber mode and face mask, with a stationary metabolic cart when measuring the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and to derive fitting equations if discrepancies are observed. Forty-three adults (18-84 years) were assessed for their RMR for two 30-min consecutive and counterbalanced periods using a Cosmed K5 and an Oxycon Pro. Differences among devices were tested using paired sample Student's t-tests, and correlation and agreement were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots. Forward stepwise multiple linear regression models were performed to develop fitting equations for estimating differences among devices when assessing oxygen uptake (VO 2 diff , mL·min -1 ) and carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 diff , mL·min -1 ). Furthermore, the Oxycon Pro was tested before being confirmed as a reference device. Significant differences between devices were found in most metabolic and ventilatory parameters, including the primary outcomes of VO 2 and VCO 2 . These differences showed an overestimation of the Cosmed K5 in all metabolic outcomes, except for Fat, when compared to the Oxycon Pro. When derived fitting equations were applied (VO 2 diff  - 139.210 + 0.786 [weight, kg] + 1.761 [height, cm] - 0.941 [Cosmed K5 VO 2 , mL·min -1 ]; VCO 2 diff  - 86.569 + 0.548 [weight, kg] + 0.915 [height, cm] - 0.728 [Cosmed K5 VCO 2 , mL·min -1 ]), differences were minimized, and agreement was maximized. This study provides fitting equations which allow the use of the Cosmed K5 for reasonably optimal RMR determinations., (© 2023 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)