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Background: This study examines the relationship between physical and mental function and frailty, independently and in conjunction with polypharmacy, among older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 368 participants aged ≥60 years. The participants were categorized into either robust or frail groups using Fried's frailty phenotype. Physical functions were assessed using grip strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), the Five Chair Sit to Stand Test (FCSST) and the Six-Minute Walk Test (SMWT). Mental functions were assessed using cognitive function and depression. Cognitive function was measured using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Depression was assessed with the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS). Results: The mean age of study population was 75.4 years. In this population, we identified 78.8% (n = 290) robust participants and 21.2% (n = 78) frail participants. The study examined frailty status (frail vs. non-frail) and frailty with and without polypharmacy using multivariate logistic regressions, adjusting for age and sex. In the logistic regression model estimating the risk of frailty, after adjustments for age, sex, BMI, and number of medications, individuals with low SMWT showed a significantly increased risk of frailty, with an odds ratio (OR) of 8.66 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 4.55–16.48. Additionally, global cognitive function was associated with a 1.97-fold increase in frailty risk (95% CI: 1.02–3.67). Moreover, in models adjusted for age, sex, and BMI to assess frailty risk linked to polypharmacy, the TUG, SMWT, and SGDS all showed increased risks, with ORs of 3.65 (95% CI: 1.07–12.47), 5.06 (95% CI: 1.40–18.32), and 5.71 (95% CI: 1.79–18.18), respectively. Conclusions: Physical function (SMWT, FCSST, TUG) and mental function (depression, cognition) were associated with frailty. By comprehensively examining these factors, we will gain valuable insights into frailty and enable more precise strategies for intervention and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study examines the negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency declarations on physical activity among the community-dwelling older adults, the participants of a physical activity measurement program, in Japan. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 1,773 community-dwelling older adults (aged 74.6 ± 6.3 years, 53.9% women) who had participated in the physical activity measurement project from February 2020 to July 2021. We measured physical activity using a tri-axial accelerometer during 547 consecutive days. Three emergency declarations, requesting people to avoid going outside, occurred during the observational period. We multiply-imputed missing values for daily physical activity, such as steps, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for several patterns of datasets according to the maximum missing rates on a person level. We mainly report the results based on less than 50% of the maximum missing rate (n = 1,056). Other results are reported in the supplemental file. Changes in physical activity before and after the start of each emergency declaration were examined by the regression discontinuity design (RDD) within 14-, 28-, and 56-day bandwidths. Results: For all the participants in the multiply-imputed data with the 14-day bandwidth, steps (coefficients [ γ ^ 1 ] , 964.3 steps), LPA ( γ ^ 1 , 5.5 min), and MVPA ( γ ^ 1 , 4.9 min) increased after the first emergency declaration. However, the effects were attenuated as the RDD bandwidths were widened. No consistent negative impact was observed after the second and third declarations. After the second declaration, steps ( γ ^ 1 , -609.7 steps), LPA ( γ ^ 1 , -4.6 min), and MVPA ( γ ^ 1 , -2.8 min) decreased with the 14-day bandwidth. On the other hand, steps ( γ ^ 1 , 143.8 steps) and MVPA ( γ ^ 1 , 1.3 min) increased with the 56-day bandwidth. For the third declaration, LPA consistently decreased with all the bandwidths ( γ ^ 1 , -2.1, -3.0, -0.8 min for the 14, 28, 56-day bandwidth), whereas steps ( γ ^ 1 , -529 steps) and MVPA ( γ ^ 1 , -2.6 min) decreased only with the 28-day bandwidth. Conclusions: For the community-dwelling older adults who regularly self-monitor their physical activity, the current study concludes that there is no evidence of consistently negative impacts of the emergency declarations by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and disability incidence according to sedentary time in community-dwelling Japanese older adults. This prospective cohort study sampled 5,104 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) enrolled in a health promotion study in a general population. The participants (n = 4,457; ≥65 years) were monitored for inclusion in the long-term care insurance system for 4 years. This study used blood samples to assess eGFR. Cox proportional regression analysis was used to determine predictors of disability. In total, 461 participants (10.3%) became newly certified as needing long-term care insurance services. Cox regression models were adjusted for multiple confounders: eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 (hazard ratio = 1.741, 95% confidence interval [1.193–2.539]) and eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 with high sedentary time (≥8 hr) (hazard ratio = 4.367, 95% confidence interval [2.021–9.438]) remained significantly associated with disability incidence. Our findings suggest that in the case of chronic kidney disease, the disability incidence rate may be affected by sedentary time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]