The longitudinal relationship between intrinsic capacity, falls, and physical activity in Dutch older adults

The relationship between intrinsic capacity (IC) and falls has not been studied in Western European older adults. This study aimed to examine the relationship between IC, falls, and physical activity (PA) in a Western European country, and to examine whether PA mediates the relation between IC and falls.

This study used data from community dwelling older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Per participant, a baseline IC score was calculated (possible range 0-100). A Cox regression analysis (n = 1257) and a linear mixed model analysis (n = 1874) were used to examine the relation between IC and falls over a 3 year follow-up and between IC and PA over 3 and 6 years, respectively. A mediation analysis (n = 898) examined whether PA mediated the relation between IC and falls.

Each one-point increase in IC score was associated with a 0.98 times lower 3-year fall hazard (95 % CI, 0.97-0.99). In older adults living in non-urban areas, those with the highest IC scores (range 71.7-92.5) spent on average 192 kcal/day more on PA (95 % CI, 127-256) than those with the lowest IC scores (range 26.5-63.0), while in older adults living in urban areas, those with the highest IC scores spent on average 89 kcal/day more on PA (95 % CI, 8-171). PA did not mediate the relationship between IC and falls.

Higher IC in older adults reduced fall risk and increased PA levels. Further research is needed on the acceptability and effectiveness of IC measurement in clinical practice.