👤 Verónica Cabanas-Sánchez

Physical activity can improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, it is not clear whether this association is direct or indirect. The aims of this study were to examine the associations of daily movement behaviours with physical and mental HRQoL in older adults, and the mediating role of muscle strength and body composition on it. Three hundred thirty-four community-dwelling older adults wore the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity for two consecutive days to quantify time spent in sedentary behaviour (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). HRQoL was assessed using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, yielding physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component scores. For muscle strength, a handgrip dynamometer and the Sit-to-Stand test were used. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and estimates of skeletal muscle mass and fat mass by bioelectrical impedance were included as body composition variables. Association analyses were examined using linear regression models, and for mediation analysis, structural equation modelling was used. MVPA was positively associated with PCS [β (95%CI): 0.39 (0.19, 0.59)], whereas no significant associations were observed between MVPA, LPA, or SB and MCS. The association between MVPA and PCS was partially mediated by lower-limb muscle strength and fat mass percentage [8.5% (z = 1.753, p = 0.080) and 28.9% (z = 1.912, p = 0.056), respectively], and fully mediated by skeletal muscle mass normalized by BMI [28.2% (z = 2.016, p = 0.044)].Regular engagement in MVPA is positively associated with the physical component of HRQoL in older adults, both directly and indirectly through muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass. Show less

To examine the association of types and intensities of physical activity (PA) and depression with all-cause mortality in a population-based cohort of older adults, where evidence is scarce or inconsistent. We analysed data from 2060 and 3263 older adults (70.5 ± 5.5 years; 2800 women) participating in the Seniors-ENRICA 1 and 2 cohorts, respectively. Time spent in walking, gardening, do-it-yourself (DIY) activities, housework, cycling, and sports was self-reported using the EPIC questionnaire. PA was categorized by intensity as follows: light (LPA; walking+housework), moderate (MPA; gardening+DIY), and vigorous PA (VPA; cycling+sports); in addition, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and total PA were computed. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10) score ≥ 3. All-cause mortality was ascertained up to January 31, 2024. Multivariable regression models were used to examine associations, adjusting for key confounders. Inverse associations were observed between all types and intensities of PA and both depression at baseline, except for cycling. In participants with depression, time spent in housework, sports, LPA, VPA, and total PA was similarly associated with reduced mortality risk. Meeting MVPA recommendations was associated with a 20 % and 32 % lower mortality in individuals without and with depression, respectively. In dose-response analyses, participants with depression who engaged in the same volume of PA as those without depression experienced a greater reduction in mortality risk. PA was associated with lower odds of prevalent depression in older adults. Notably, older adults with depression experienced greater mortality benefits from comparable levels of physical activity than those without depression. Show less