Exercise, disability and physical functioning in older Chinese adults during their last six years of life: a cohort study

Abstract

Background Little is known about the potential effects of exercise behaviour on disability and physical functioning (PF) in late-life. This study aimed to investigate whether exercise behaviour with four different long term exercise status influences disability and PF in older Chinese adults during their last six years of life. Methods Secondary data analyses were performed using participants (≥ 65 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study. Exercise behaviour was collected every three years during their last six years of life. 4265 participants were enrolled and divided into four groups, including long-term non-exercising (NN), non-exercising to exercise (NY), exercise to non-exercising (YN), and long-term exercising (YY). Disability was measured based on the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living scale and divided into three disability levels. PF was included as chair-rise, pick-up book and turn-around. Risks burden in disability and PF among four groups were compared using logistic regression analyses. Results Compared with NN, the risk of developing severe disability was attenuated in YY (OR 0.11, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.21) and attenuated in NY (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.17 to 0.44) and increased in YN (OR 1.36, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.72). Moderate disability risk was increased in YN (OR 1.85, 95%CI 1.26 to 2.71) only. The risk of developing physical dysfunction ( chair-rise, pick-up book, and turning around 360°) was decreased in YY and NY, and did not have significant difference in YN. Conclusions EP were associated with disability and PF in older Chinese adults during their late-life. Late-life exercise behaviour is still beneficial. Our findings suggest that it is meaning to encourage older people doing EP at late-life in China.