Association of the Combination of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Sleep Quality with Physical Frailty.

Background: The association of the individual and combined effects of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sleep quality with physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults is still unknown.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of older adults who had not required nursing care or support services. Physical frailty was assessed using Liu's definition based on Fried's concept. MVPA was measured by a triaxial accelerometer, and individuals who met either moderate physical activity (MPA) for ≥300 min/week, vigorous physical activity (VPA) for ≥150 min/week, or both were defined as "MVA⁺". "SLP⁺" was defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of <5.5 points.

Results: A total of 811 participants were included in the final analysis. After adjusting for the multivariable confounding factors, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for physical pre-frailty and frailty in the MVA^-SLP⁺ (OR, 2.56; 95%CI, 1.80-3.62) and the MVA^-SLP^- group (OR, 3.97; 95%CI, 2.33-6.74) were significantly higher compared with the MVA⁺SLP⁺ group.

Conclusion: Community-dwelling older adults who did not meet the MVPA criteria, regardless of sleep quality, had a higher prevalence of physical frailty.