THE ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MORTALITY AMONG RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA
2024

Physical Activity and Mortality in Older Adults with Dementia

Sample size: 42 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Burch Brittany, Resnick Barbara

Primary Institution: University of Maryland Baltimore

Hypothesis

Greater amounts of physical activity at one month post discharge is associated with lower mortality over the first year post discharge.

Conclusion

The study found no statistically significant association between physical activity one month post discharge and mortality within one year, but there was a strong trend suggesting increased physical activity may reduce mortality risk.

Supporting Evidence

  • Participants spent 83.3% of their days sedentary after hospitalization.
  • The study suggests a trend where increasing physical activity by 10 minutes daily may decrease mortality risk by 4%.

Takeaway

Older adults with dementia who are more active after leaving the hospital might live longer, but this study didn't find strong proof of that.

Methodology

The study used MotionWatch8 accelerometers to measure physical activity and logistic regression to analyze the data.

Limitations

The sample size was small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

Recently hospitalized older adults with dementia.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.053

Confidence Interval

CI=.992,1.000

Statistical Significance

p=0.053

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.3494

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