Time Spent Sitting Is Associated with Changes in Biomarkers of Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

Jair S. Virtuoso Júnior, Liliane B. Roza, Sheilla Tribess, Joilson Meneguci, Edmar L. Mendes, Maycon S. Pegorari, Flávia A. Dias, Darlene M. dos Santos Tavares, Jeffer E. Sasaki

Background: Sedentary behavior has gained prominence in the literature as a risk factor for health and mortality independent of physical activity level; however, little is known about the relationship of sedentary behavior with frailty in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate if time spent sitting can be used as a discriminator of frailty in older hospitalized persons. Methods: The study included 162 hospitalized inpatients aged ≥60 years. Blood samples were taken for analyzing leukocyte counts and serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). Participants also answered a questionnaire about time spent sitting. Frailty was determined from a combination of CRP concentration and leukocyte count. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to analyse the predictive power and cut-points for time spent sitting and the presence of frailty. Results: The areas under the ROC curves indicated that time spent sitting was an independent indicator of frailty (area under curve >0.6). The cut-off points for time spent sitting as an indicator of frailty were >257 min/day for men and >330 min/day for women. Conclusions: Time spent sitting is associated with biomarkers of frailty in persons aged ≥60 years, indicating a need for interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior in this age group.