ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome is associated with various physical, cognitive, social, economic, and environmental factors. Although frailty syndrome occurs progressively with age, prevention and treatment are possible. Reducing or eliminating risks and increasing protective factors may be potential strategies for reducing the prevalence of injuries related to frailty. One of the most effective actions is to decrease the time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) by increasing regular physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothetical effect of substitution of the time spent in sleep or SB with an equivalent time spent performing moderate or vigorous PA on frailty syndrome in the older population. DESIGN AND SETTING: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted using exploratory methods of survey, carried out in Alcobaça city, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 456 older adults of both sexes, aged ≥ 60 years, participated in this study. Frailty syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. PA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The effects of time substitution on these behaviors were verified using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The replacement of 60 min/day of SB (prevalence ratio, PR = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.28–0.96) or sleep (PR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27–0.98) with 60 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) was associated with a 48% reduction in the prevalence of frailty syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the time spent sitting or sleeping with the same amount of MPA time may reduce frailty; the longer the duration of time spent in the substitution of sleep or SB with MPA, the greater the benefits.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.