Dataset Information

The Roles of Body Composition and Specific Strength in the Relationship Between Race and Physical Performance in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: Background: Socioeconomics may explain black-white differences in physical performance; few studies examine racial differences among socioeconomically similar groups. Performance is also affected by body composition and specific strength, which differ by race. We assessed whether racial differences in physical performance exist among older adults with high education and similar income and whether body composition and specific strength attenuate observed differences.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 536 men (18% black) and 576 women (28% black) aged more than 60 years from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Body composition was evaluated using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Specific strength was assessed by quadricep peak torque divided by height-normalized thigh cross-sectional area and grip strength divided by body mass index-normalized appendicular lean mass. Physical performance was assessed using usual gait speed and fast 400 m walk time. Sex-stratified linear regression models, adjusted for age, height, education, and recent income, determined whether body composition or specific strength attenuated associations between race and physical performance.

Results: Blacks were younger, with higher weight and appendicular lean mass. Black women had higher percent fat and specific strength. In both sexes, blacks had poorer physical performance after adjustment for socioeconomic factors. In women, neither body composition nor specific strength altered the association with gait speed. In men, neither body composition nor specific strength attenuated racial differences in either performance measure.

Conclusions: Poorer physical performance among black compared to white older adults persists among persons with high education and similar income and cannot generally be attributed to differences in body composition or specific strength.

SUBMITTER: Chiles Shaffer N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7062232 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Roles of Body Composition and Specific Strength in the Relationship Between Race and Physical Performance in Older Adults.

Chiles Shaffer Nancy N Simonsick Eleanor M EM Thorpe Roland J RJ Studenski Stephanie A SA

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 20200301 4

<h4>Background</h4>Socioeconomics may explain black-white differences in physical performance; few studies examine racial differences among socioeconomically similar groups. Performance is also affected by body composition and specific strength, which differ by race. We assessed whether racial differences in physical performance exist among older adults with high education and similar income and whether body composition and specific strength attenuate observed differences.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-s ...[more]

PMID: 31825084

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Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the associations of body mass index (BMI) and grip strength with objective measures of physical performance (chair rise time, walking speed and balance) including an assessment of sex differences and non-linearity.MethodsCross-sectional data from eight UK cohort studies (total N = 16,444) participating in the Healthy Ageing across the Life Course (HALCyon) research programme, ranging in age from 50 to 90+ years at the time of physical capability assessment, were used. Regression models were fitted within each study and meta-analysis methods used to pool regression coefficients across studies and to assess the extent of heterogeneity between studies.ResultsHigher BMI was associated with poorer performance on chair rise (N = 10,773), walking speed (N = 9,761) and standing balance (N = 13,921) tests. Higher BMI was associated with stronger grip strength in men only. Stronger grip strength was associated with better performance on all tests with a tendency for the associations to be stronger in women than men; for example, walking speed was higher by 0.43 cm/s (0.14, 0.71) more per kg in women than men. Both BMI and grip strength remained independently related with performance after mutual adjustment, but there was no evidence of effect modification. Both BMI and grip strength exhibited non-linear relations with performance; those in the lowest fifth of grip strength and highest fifth of BMI having particularly poor performance. Findings were similar when waist circumference was examined in place of BMI.ConclusionOlder men and women with weak muscle strength and high BMI have considerably poorer performance than others and associations were observed even in the youngest cohort (age 53). Although causality cannot be inferred from observational cross-sectional studies, our findings suggest the likely benefit of early assessment and interventions to reduce fat mass and improve muscle strength in the prevention of future functional limitations.

Project description:BackgroundLower muscle and higher fat mass are characteristics of older adults; their physical function is also characterized by slower gait speed and weaker strength. However, the association between specific body composition and physical function is unclear.MethodsWe examined the association between body composition and physical performance using combined cross-sectional data of 1,821 participants from 13 clinical studies at Wake Forest University that used a consistent battery of tests. All participants were ≥60 years old and had one of the following conditions: healthy, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, obesity, heart failure, at elevated risk for disability, renal transplantation candidates, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, moderate self-reported disability, hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease, at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Data at enrollment from each study using uniform tools including body mass index (BMI), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, physical performance assessment using 4 m walk speed, five chair rise time, handgrip strength, short physical performance battery (17), and Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability were analyzed.ResultsIncreased BMI was associated with slower walk speed, lower short physical performance battery, and higher Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability score. Increased percentage of body fat was associated with slower walk speed, lower hand grip strength, lower short physical performance battery scores, and higher Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability scores. Percent appendicular lean mass was associated with faster walk speed, higher handgrip strength, higher short physical performance battery, and lower Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability score. There were no significant discrepancies in relationship between body composition and physical function by gender except gender and BMI on chair-rise time.ConclusionsHigher BMI and percent body fat were associated with poor physical function while percent appendicular lean mass was associated with better physical function. There was no significant discrepancy in the by gender.

Dataset Information

The Roles of Body Composition and Specific Strength in the Relationship Between Race and Physical Performance in Older Adults.

Publications

The Roles of Body Composition and Specific Strength in the Relationship Between Race and Physical Performance in Older Adults.

Similar Datasets

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