Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40498579›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2025

Frailty and physical activity: are all physical activity variables equal?

Mariana Wingood, Byron C Jaeger, Jason Fanning, Kathryn E Callahan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

4 authors.

Mariana WingoodDepartment of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-1617-0031
Byron C JaegerBiostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States.
Jason FanningDepartment of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-5527-1698
Kathryn E CallahanDepartment of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-6405-3062

Funding

CTSA K12 Program at Wake ForestK12TR004931 · NCATS · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Nicholette D. Allred · 2024 to 2026
$2.3M
NCATS NIH HHS K12 TR004931
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFrailty, defined as diminished physiological and functional reserve, is linked to negative health outcomes such as falls, fractures, and disability. Physical activity dose plays a significant role in preventing and reducing physical frailty, but the influence of different PA variables on deficit accumulation (ie, frailty index [FI]) is not fully understood. Thus, we examined the relationship between physical activity variables and FI among older adults.

methodsWe utilized Round 11 (2021) data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a longitudinal study of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older in the United States. Our participants included 726 community-dwelling older adults who had at least 3 valid days of accelerometer data and all data needed to calculate FI. Demographic variables, health conditions, and physical function were assessed through standardized interviews and objective assessments. We completed regression and Poisson models to estimate FI value and prevalence ratios for frailty.

resultsParticipants spent 339 daily minutes performing physical activity. The activity was accumulated over 88 bouts averaging 3.8 minutes. Those with frailty have lower levels of activity, higher levels of non-activity and sleep, higher activity fragmentation, fewer bouts, shorter bouts, and lower intensity over 10 consecutive minutes (ps < .001). After adjusting for all activity metrics, activity fragmentation (B = 1.32) and intensity of the most active 10-minute bout (B= -0.46) remained significantly associated with FI (P ≤ .04).

conclusionsLow-intensity and fragmented physical activity is linked to frailty. Further research should explore the role of sustained activity and fragmentation in monitoring and guiding interventions for frailty.

Indexed as

ExerciseFrail ElderlyFrailtyAccelerometryAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGeriatric AssessmentHumansIndependent LivingLongitudinal StudiesMaleMedicareUnited Statesfrailtygeriatricsphysical activity

Identifiers

PMID40498579
PMCPMC12351540

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.