Association of Brief Bouts of Vigorous Physical Activity and Frailty in Older Adults With Regular and Irregular...

Brief bouts of vigorous physical activity such as vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) have emerged as a flexible alternative to traditional structured exercise, requiring less time commitment, preparation, and access to facilities. This study explored the association between VILPA and the odds of prefrailty or frailty in 195 older adults aged 65 and above at National Taiwan University Hospital. Frailty status was evaluated using Fried et al.'s criteria, which include slowness, weakness, weight loss, exhaustion, and low physical activity. VILPA was measured using a waist-worn accelerometer. Multivariate binary logistic regression models revealed that meeting the VILPA duration or bouts thresholds was linked to lower odds of prefrailty or frailty. These associations were significant in those with irregular exercise habits, with adherence to VILPA duration or bouts thresholds correlating with reduced prefrailty or frailty likelihood (odds ratio = 0.21, 95% confidence interval [0.05, 0.89]). However, no significant associations were observed in individuals with regular exercise habits. Adhering to VILPA thresholds may be associated with lower frailty odds, particularly in older adults with irregular exercise habits. These findings suggest that promoting brief bouts of vigorous physical activity in daily life may have potential implications for frailty reduction in older adults, especially those who do not engage in regular exercise. This approach offers a potentially accessible and flexible alternative to structured exercise programs for maintaining health in aging populations.