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Associations of Midlife to Late Life Fatigue With Physical Performance and Strength in Early Old Age: Results From a British Prospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To examine associations of fatigue in midlife and later life with physical performance and strength in early old age. METHODS:Data on approximately 1800 men and women from the UK Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development with data on fatigue at ages 43 and 60 to 64 years were used. Fatigue was defined as perceived tiredness and was assessed prospectively at ages 43 and 60 to 64 years. At both ages, participants were categorized as having no, occasional, or frequent fatigue. Physical performance and strength were measured at age 60 to 64 years using four objective measures: grip strength, standing balance, chair rising, and timed get-up-and-go (TUG) tests. RESULTS:There were associations between reports of frequent fatigue at both ages and poorer grip strength, chair rise, and TUG performance at 60 to 64 years. Furthermore, individuals reporting frequent fatigue at both ages had weaker grip strength (? = -4.09 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -6.71 to -1.48) and slower chair rise (? = -4.65 repetitions/min, 95% CI = -6.65 to -2.64) and TUG (? = -4.22 cm/s, 95% CI = -12.16 to -2.28) speeds when compared with those who reported no fatigue at both time points. These associations were robust and were maintained after adjustment for a range of covariates including physical activity and health status. CONCLUSIONS:Reports of frequent fatigue were associated with poorer physical performance in early old age, especially if sustained from midlife to later life. These findings indicate that it is not just fatigue but fatigue sustained across adulthood that has implications for later life functioning.

SUBMITTER: Manty M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4568292 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Associations of Midlife to Late Life Fatigue With Physical Performance and Strength in Early Old Age: Results From a British Prospective Cohort Study.

Mänty Minna M Kuh Diana D Cooper Rachel R

Psychosomatic medicine 20150901 7

<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine associations of fatigue in midlife and later life with physical performance and strength in early old age.<h4>Methods</h4>Data on approximately 1800 men and women from the UK Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development with data on fatigue at ages 43 and 60 to 64 years were used. Fatigue was defined as perceived tiredness and was assessed prospectively at ages 43 and 60 to 64 years. At both ages, participants were categorized as having no, occ ...[more]

PMID: 26176776

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Project description:ObjectivesTo examine cumulative associations between midlife health behaviors and walking speed and upper-limb strength in early old age.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingWhitehall II Study.ParticipantsIndividuals (mean age 49.1 ± 5.9 in 1991-93) with health behavior data for at least two of the three assessments (1991-93, 1997-99, 2002-04) and physical functioning measures in 2007-09 (mean age 65.9 ± 5.9) (N = 5,671).MeasurementsA trained nurse assessed walking speed and upper-limb strength. Unhealthy behaviors were defined as current or recent smoking, nonmoderate alcohol consumption (abstinence or heavy drinking), fruit and vegetable consumption less than twice per day, and physical inactivity (<1 h/wk of moderate and <1 h/wk of vigorous physical activity). For each unhealthy behavior, a cumulative score was calculated as the number of times a person reported the behavior over the three assessments divided by 3. The score ranged between 0 (never) and 1 (all three times).ResultsIn linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, and height, all unhealthy behaviors in 1991-93 were associated with slower walking speed in 2007-09, with differences ranging from 0.10 (nonmoderate alcohol consumption) to 0.25 (physical inactivity) of a standard deviation between participants with and without the unhealthy behavior (Pt-test <.001). For walking speed, the accumulation-of-risk model provided the best fit for unhealthy diet (β for a 1-point increment in the low fruit and vegetable consumption score = -0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.36 to -0.22) and physical inactivity (β = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.45 to -0.29). For smoking and nonmoderate alcohol consumption, a cumulative effect was also observed, but partial F-tests did not suggest that it provided a better fit than models with behaviors in 1991-93, 1997-99, or 2002-04. All behavioral scores except smoking were associated with grip strength, but F-tests supported the accumulation-of-risk hypothesis only for physical inactivity.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of duration of unhealthy behaviors, particularly for diet and physical activity, when examining associations with physical functioning.

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Associations of Midlife to Late Life Fatigue With Physical Performance and Strength in Early Old Age: Results From a British Prospective Cohort Study.

Publications

Associations of Midlife to Late Life Fatigue With Physical Performance and Strength in Early Old Age: Results From a British Prospective Cohort Study.

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