Jeong Su Cho, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, 179, Gudeok-Ro, Seo-Gu, Busan 49241, Korea,
J Nutr Health Aging. 2021;25(5):618-623. doi: 10.1007/s12603-021-1588-4.
Neighborhood walkability has been found to be positively related to physical activity and negatively associated with risks of noncommunicable diseases. However, limited studies have examined its association with sarcopenia in older adults. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association between neighborhood walk score and risks of sarcopenia in a sample of older Taiwanese adults.
This study was a cross-sectional investigation using telephone-based survey.
A nationwide telephone-based survey targeting older adults (≥ 65 years) was conducted in Taiwan.
Data on neighborhood walkability (determined by walk score of residential neighborhood), sarcopenia scores (measured by SARC-F), and personal characteristics were obtained. The relationships between walk score and risks of sarcopenia were examined using generalized additive models.
A total of 1,056 older adults participated in the survey. In model 1 (sex and age) and model 2 (full-adjusted model), a nonlinear association between neighborhood walk score and risks of sarcopenia was observed. Results showed that risks of sarcopenia appear to be lower in neighborhoods with a 40-walk score (Car-Dependent; most errands require a car) and an 80-walk score (Very Walkable) and highest in the neighborhood with a 60-walk score (Somewhat Walkable).
The study revealed a nonlinear relationship between neighborhood walkability and risks of sarcopenia in older adults in Asian context. Results provided information to urban designers and public health practitioners that more walkable neighborhood may not necessarily protect older adults from risks of sarcopenia.
已发现邻里步行可及性与身体活动呈正相关，与非传染性疾病的风险呈负相关。然而，有限的研究调查了其与老年人肌肉减少症的关系。因此，本研究旨在检验居住社区的步行得分与台湾老年人群体肌肉减少症风险之间的关系。
这是一项使用电话调查的横断面研究。
在台湾，对老年人（≥65 岁）进行了一项基于电话的全国性调查。
获得了邻里步行能力（由居住社区的步行得分决定）、肌肉减少症评分（通过 SARC-F 测量）和个人特征的数据。使用广义加性模型检验步行得分与肌肉减少症风险之间的关系。
共有 1056 名老年人参与了调查。在模型 1（性别和年龄）和模型 2（全调整模型）中，观察到邻里步行得分与肌肉减少症风险之间存在非线性关系。结果表明，在步行得分 40 的社区（依赖汽车；大部分差事都需要汽车）和步行得分 80 的社区（非常适合步行）中，肌肉减少症的风险似乎较低，而在步行得分 60 的社区（有些适合步行）中风险最高。
该研究揭示了亚洲背景下邻里步行能力与老年人肌肉减少症风险之间的非线性关系。研究结果为城市设计师和公共卫生从业者提供了信息，即更适合步行的社区不一定能保护老年人免受肌肉减少症的风险。
