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Hesseberg K.1,2, Bergland A.1, Rydwik E.3, Brovold T.1
1Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway, 2Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Physiotherapy, Oslo, Norway, 3Karolinska Institutet, Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Stockholm, Sweden
Background: Older people are the fastest growing group in the world and maintaining physical independence and good quality of life are important goals of clinical medicine and public health. Greater physical fitness is essential to carry out tasks and to participate and enjoy social and cultural life. As individuals get older, they are predisposed to chronic disease, cognitive impairment and hospitalization which have direct impact on their level of physical function and their ability to stay active. Longitudinal studies suggest that preserving high cardiorespiratory endurance through lifelong participation in physical activities may protect against cognitive decline among older people. Physical activity may even attenuate the progression of dementia among older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Hospitalization and acute medical illness is often associated with poor physical fitness because of the cumulative effects of illness, medication and fatigue, on cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal functioning To get a broader picture of the level of physical fitness among older people with cognitive impairment it may be of importance to compare the level of physical fitness between two groups of high risk for inactivity and functional decline. We want to highlight how affected physical fitness can be in older people with cognitive impairment. Early detection is essential in order to prevent further decline through physical activity interventions and rehabilitation strategies.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare patients with cognitive impairment with a group of older people recently discharged from hospital in relation to different components of physical fitness when controlling for demographic factors. This study aims at adding new knowledge regarding clinical impairments of physical fitness in those who are diagnosed with cognitive impairments.
Methods: The sample includes baseline data from two study settings and has a cross-sectional design. The first study setting (Study 1) included 98 older people ≥65 years of age diagnosed with cognitive impairment, including MCI and dementia. The participants were recruited from four memory clinics in Norway. The second study setting (Study 2) included baseline data from a randomized controlled aerobic exercise intervention trial. Participants were ≥70 years of age and were recruited whilst resident in the hospital due to an acute medical event. Associations between the study group variable and different components in the Senior Fitness test were examined, controlling for demographic factors and co-morbidity.
Results: The results regarding the associations between the components of physical fitness and Study group showed that being in study group 1 indicated poorer results on the physical fitness components flexibility in the under extremities, up & go test (mobility) and 6 minutes walk test (endurance), compared to study group 2 (B = -6.70 (p=0.004), B =2.09 (p 0.001) and B=-43.77 (p=0.030) respectively).
Conclusion(s): This study show that the level of physical fitness was low among older adults with cognitive impairments compared to older people discharged from hospital.
Implications: This study supports that public health initiatives should be designed to reduce passive sedentary behaviour in older adults with cognitive impairment. They are in need of individual tailored physical activity programs to increase level of physical fitness.
Funding acknowledgements: The work was unfunded
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval: The study were approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in South-Eastern Norway.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
