Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity Associated With Incident Probable Sarcopenia, Fracture, and Falls

The reported associations between physical activity type, intensity, and duration and decreased risks of developing sarcopenia, fractures, and falls are inconsistent. Therefore, the associations of accelerometer-derived physical activity data with probable sarcopenia, fractures, and falls risk were examined.

A total of 80,804 participants with accelerometer-derived physical activity data from the UK Biobank were included. The primary outcomes were probable sarcopenia, fractures, and falls, with recurrent fractures and falls as secondary outcomes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between total and intensity-specific physical activity and the outcomes, and restricted cubic splines were used to investigate dose-response relationships.

There were 1,949 probable sarcopenia, 4,174 fractures, and 3,514 falls in the accelerometer-derived cohort. Performing guideline-adherent moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity (150-300 minutes/week) was associated with a 30% lower risk of probable sarcopenia (hazard ratio=0.70 [95% CI=0.53, 0.91]), 41% lower risk of fractures (hazard ratio=0.59 [0.51, 0.68]), 47% lower risk of falls (hazard ratio=0.53 [0.47, 0.61]), 40% lower risk of recurrent fractures (hazard ratio=0.60 [0.45, 0.81]), and 47% lower risk of recurrent falls (hazard ratio=0.53 [0.46, 0.62]). A low dose of vigorous-intensity physical activity (0-25 minutes/week) could yield apparent benefits on incident probable sarcopenia, fractures, and falls.

Engaging in multiple types of physical activity, particularly higher levels of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity, was associated with a lower risk of developing probable sarcopenia, fractures, and falls.