Physical Performance, Cardiovascular Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Older Adults Compared to Oldest-Old Residential Seniors

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed physical, cardiovascular, and psychosocial health in different age groups at the far end of the lifespan.

METHODS: Sixty-two residential seniors participated in this cross-sectional study and were assigned according to age to either the older adults (n = 27; age: 74.8 (3.6); f: 23) or the oldest-old group (n = 35; age: 87.2 (5.0); f: 28). Gait speed, functional mobility, handgrip strength, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Additionally, questionnaires to assess quality of life were applied. Mean between-group differences (Δ) and Hedge's g with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULTS: Oldest-old had moderately lower handgrip strength (Δ = -31.3 N, 95% CI [-66.30; -1.65], Hedge's g = 0.49 [-0.97; 0.03]) and relevant lower gait speed than the older adults (Δ = -0.11 m/s [-0.28; 0.05], g = 0.34 [-0.89; 0.20]). All other physical parameters showed trivial differences. Very large effects were found in PWV in favor of the older adults (Δ = -2.65 m/s [-3.26; -2.04], g = -2.14 [-2.81; -1.36]). The questionnaires showed trivial to small differences.

CONCLUSION: We found small differences in physical as well as psychosocial health between age groups with large inter-individual variance. Large differences were found in arterial stiffness, which increases with age. Exercise programs in nursing homes should consider physical, psychosocial, and cardiovascular variables more than age.