Effect of physical activity on frailty, mortality

Editor's Note

Physical activity may attenuate the risk of mortality associated with frailty in old age, this study finds.

In this analysis of data on 3,896 adults aged 60 and older during a median of 14 years of follow-up, physical activity was associated with lower mortality in prefrail and frail adults, and mortality outcomes in frail physically active older adults were similar to those who were not frail.

Participants reported their physical activity using the five components of the FRAIL scale−Fatigue, low Resistance, limitation in Ambulation, Illnesses, Loss of weight.