Abstract
Background
Little is known about how adverse, midlife metabolic profiles impact future physical functioning. We hypothesized that a higher number of midlife metabolic syndrome (MetS) components are associated with poorer physical performance in early old age for multi-ethnic women.
Methods
MetS status from 1996-2011 (8 visits) and objective physical performance in 2015/2016 (short physical performance battery (SPPB; 0-12), 40-foot walk (m/s), 4-meter gait speed (m/s), chair stands (sec), stair climb (sec)) were assessed in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN; n=1722; age 65.4±2.7 years; 26.9% African American, 10.1% Chinese, 9.8% Japanese, 5.5% Hispanic). Poisson latent class growth modeling identified MetS component trajectory groups: none (23.9%), 1=low-MetS (28.7%), 2=mid-MetS (30.9%), and >3=high-MetS (16.5%). Adjusted linear regression related MetS groups to physical performance outcomes.
Results
High-MetS versus none had higher BMI, pain, financial strain, and lower physical activity and self-reported health (p<0.0001). Compared to White, African American and Hispanic women were more likely to be in the high-MetS groups and had worse physical functioning along with Chinese women (SPPB, chair stand, stair climb, and gait speed - not Hispanic). After adjustments, high-MetS versus none demonstrated significantly worse 40-ft walk (β:-0.08; 95% CI:-0.13, -0.03), gait speed (β:-0.09; 95% CI:-0.15, -0.02), SPPB (β:-0.79; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.44), and chair stands (β:0.69; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.28), but no difference in stair climb.
Conclusions
Midlife MetS groups were related to poor physical performance in early old age multi-ethnic women. Midlife management of metabolic function may improve physical performance later in life.