Associations between physical fitness, body composition, and heart rate variability during exercise in older people: exploring mediating factors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Age-related changes in body composition affect physical fitness in older adults. However, whether the autonomic response is associated with body fat percentage and its implication for physical fitness is not fully understood.

Aim

To understand the association between physical fitness, body composition, and heart rate variability in older people and its mediating factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with 81 older adults was conducted, assessing Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Two-minute Step Test (TMST), body composition, and cardiac autonomic response. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed.

Results

Body fat percentage negatively correlated with physical fitness (SPPB: r =  - 0.273, p = 0.015; TMST: r = 

SUBMITTER: Mabe-Castro D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11439397 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature