Accelerometer assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and successful ageing: results from the Whitehall II study

Physical activity is key for successful ageing, but questions remain regarding the optimal physical activity pattern. We examined the cross-sectional association between physical activity and successful ageing using data on 3,749 participants (age range = 60-83years) of the Whitehall II study. The participants underwent a clinical assessment, completed a 20-item physical activity questionnaire, and wore a wrist-mounted accelerometer for 9 days. Successful ageing was defined as good cognitive, motor, and respiratory functioning, along with absence of disability, mental health problems, and major chronic diseases. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) episodes assessed by accelerometer was classified as "short" (1-9.59 minutes) and "long" (>= 10 minutes) bouts. Linear multivariate regression showed that successful agers (N = 789) reported 3.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39-6.19) minutes more daily MVPA than other participants. Accelerometer data showed this difference to be 3.40 (95% CI: 2.44-4.35) minutes for MVPA undertaken in short bouts, 4.16 (95% CI: 3.11-5.20) minutes for long bouts, and 7.55 (95% CI: 5.86-9.24) minutes for all MVPA bouts lasting 1 minute or more. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that participants undertaking >= 150 minutes of MVPA per week were more likely to be successful agers with both self-reported (Odd Ratio (OR) = 1.29,95% (CI): 1.09-1.53) and accelerometer data (length bout >= 1 minute: OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.60-2.30). Successful agers practice more MVPA, having both more short and long bouts, than non-successful agers.