Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30105644›Full record

ArticleDrugs & aging2018

Association Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Opioid, Hypnotic, or Anticholinergic Medication Use in Older People: Data from the Physical Activity Cohort Scotland Study.

Clare L Clarke, Falko F Sniehotta, Thenmalar Vadiveloo, Peter T Donnan, Miles D Witham

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Drugs & aging, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Innovations in pharmacovigilance studies of medicines in older people.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2025
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  4. Review
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Clare L ClarkeSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Falko F SniehottaInstitute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
Thenmalar VadivelooSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Peter T DonnanSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Miles D WithamSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. m.witham@dundee.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-1967-0990

Funding

Chief Scientist Office CZG/2/569Chief Scientist Office CZH/4/518Medical Research Council MR/K02325X/1Tenovus T15/48
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCentrally acting medications cause cognitive slowing and incoordination, which could reduce older people's physical activity levels. This association has not been studied previously.

objectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the association between opioid, hypnotic and anticholinergic medication, and objectively measured physical activity, in a cohort of older people.

methodsWe used data from the Physical Activity Cohort Scotland, a representative cohort of community-dwelling older people aged 65 years and over who were assessed at baseline and again 2-3 years later. Objective physical activity was measured using Stayhealthy RT3 accelerometers over 7 days. Baseline medication use (opioid use, hypnotic use, modified Anticholinergic Risk Scale [mARS]) was obtained from linked, routinely collected community prescribing records. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between baseline medication use and both baseline activity and change in activity over time were analysed using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models.

resultsOverall, 310 participants were included in the analysis; mean age 77 years (standard deviation 7). No association was seen between baseline use of any medication class and baseline physical activity levels in unadjusted or adjusted models. For change in activity over time, there was no difference between users and non-users of hypnotics or opioids. Higher anticholinergic burden was associated with a steeper decline in activity over the follow-up period (mARS 0: - 7051 counts/24 h/year; mARS 1-2: - 15,942 counts/24 h/year; mARS ≥ 3: - 19,544 counts/24 h/year; p = 0.03) and this remained robust to multiple adjustments.

conclusionAnticholinergic burden is associated with greater decline in objectively measured physical activity over time in older people, a finding not seen with hypnotic or opioid use.

Indexed as

ExerciseAgedAged, 80 and overAnalgesics, OpioidCholinergic AntagonistsCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansHypnotics and SedativesIndependent LivingMaleScotlandAnalgesics, OpioidCholinergic AntagonistsHypnotics and Sedatives

Identifiers

PMID30105644

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.