Dual Roles of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Fatigability in the Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults: The Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived fatigability are interrelated components of physical capacity that may jointly influence movement within one's living environment (life-space mobility). We examined whether fitness and fatigability were associated with life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults, and whether the association of fitness with life-space varied by the level of perceived fatigability. Methods Participants were from the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA) baseline cohort (N = 775, mean age 76.1 years). Life Space Assessment scores incorporated level, frequency, and assistance used (personal, devices) for life-space mobility. Fitness was measured as VO(2)peak from symptom-limited treadmill testing. Fatigability cut-points included: (i) Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) >= 10 after a fixed-speed (1.5 mph) treadmill test, (ii) the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) Physical >= 15, and (iii) PFS Mental >= 13. The total count of cut-points was used as a composite fatigability measure (range: 0-3). Linear regressions were adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and health confounders. Results Better fitness was associated with greater life-space, but the association plateaued at higher fitness levels (VO(2)peak > 18). Life-space was significantly lower for individuals meeting >= 2 fatigability criteria (vs none), attributable mainly to more severe physical, but not mental, fatigability. In moderation analyses, the fitness-life-space association was significant only for those with RPE >= 10 but did not differ by PFS. Conclusion Fitness below a critically low threshold was associated with limited life-space mobility, suggesting that certain older individuals may need to operate close to their maximum aerobic capacity to traverse daily environments; these associations were driven by those with more severe physical fatigability.