Physical Activity in Centenarians beyond Cut-Point-Based Accelerometer Metrics

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-09, Vol.19 (18), p.11384
• Main Authors: Hernández-Vicente, Adrián, Marín-Puyalto, Jorge, Pueyo, Esther, Vicente-Rodríguez, Germán, Garatachea, Nuria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Accelerometry - methods; Adults; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Centenarians; Exercise; Exercise Test; Female; Frailty; Geriatrics; Humans; Life expectancy; Life span; Luminous intensity; Male; Mortality; Older people; Oldest old people; Physical activity; Population; Questionnaires; Wrist
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811384

This study described and compared physical activity (PA) characteristics at the end of the human lifespan using conventional cut-point-based versus cut-point-free accelerometer metrics. Eighteen institutionalized centenarians (101.5 ± 2.1 years, 72.2% female, 89% frail) wore the wrist GENEActiv accelerometer for 7 days. Conventional metrics, such as time spent in light-intensity PA (LiPA) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) were calculated according to published cut-points for adults and older adults. The following cut-point-free metrics were evaluated: average acceleration, intensity gradient and Mx metrics. Depending on the cut-point, centenarians accumulated a median of 15-132 min/day of LiPA and 3-15 min/day of MVPA. The average acceleration was 9.2 mg [Q1: 6.7 mg-Q3: 12.6 mg] and the intensity gradient was -3.19 [-3.34--3.12]. The distribution of -values revealed positive skew for MVPA, indicating a potential floor effect, whereas the skew magnitude was attenuated for cut-point-free metrics such as intensity gradient or M5. However, both cut-point-based and cut-point-free metrics were similarly positively associated with functional independence, cognitive and physical capacities. This is the first time that PA has been described in centenarians using cut-point-free metrics. Our results suggest that new analytical approaches could overcome cut-point limitations when studying the oldest-old. Future studies using these new cut-point-free PA metrics are warranted to provide more complete and comparable information across groups and populations.