PhD. Student University of Manitoba University of Manitoba
Disclosure(s):
Daniel Schwade, BSc., MSc.: No financial relationships to disclose
Background: Aging increases the risk of various cardiometabolic conditions. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterized by a cluster of interconnected factors that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Maintaining good physical fitness is one of the major recommendations for the prevention of MetS – thus, assessing physical fitness in older adults is crucial. The Senior Fitness Test stands out as a simple yet effective tool that evaluates key components of fitness (strength, endurance, flexibility, agility, and balance). However, no studies have assessed which one of these individual fitness components is most related with MetS risk in the female older adults. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between Senior Fitness Test scores and MetS risk in a cohort of female older adults.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a cohort of 1,018 female participants aged 55 and older with no previous history of cardiovascular disease. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed using each MetS criteria as the outcome variable and the components of the Senior Fitness Test as predictor variables, adjusted for age. 289 (29%) participants met the criteria for MetS. Improved performance in the Back Scratch (OR = 0.92 [0.91 - 0.94], β = -0.074), Sit and Reach (OR = 0.96 [0.95 - 0.98], β = -0.032), and Sit-to-Stand (OR = 0.94 [0.91 - 0.97], β = -0.058) were associated with lower odds of MetS (p < .001). A higher time to complete the Up-and-Go test was associated with approximately 53% higher odds of MetS per one-second increase (OR = 1.53 [1.31 - 1.78], β = 0.426, p < .001), while every 30-meter increase in 6-Minute Walk Distance was associated with approximately 23% lower odds of MetS (OR = 0.76 [0.72 - 0.81], β = -0.266, p < .001).
Conclusion: This study found that better performance in all components of the Senior Fitness Test was associated with significantly lower odds of MetS in a cohort of older females, with the exception of the Arm Curl test. The Up-and-Go and the 6-Minute Walk test results had the highest impact on MetS risk. Identifying high-risk individuals is crucial for prevention and early intervention efforts, and female older adults are a particularly vulnerable population. In scenarios where time and space are limited, prioritizing the Up-and-Go test and the 6-Minute Walk Test can provide valuable insights into the cardiometabolic risk profile of older adult patients.
