Does Relationship Status Affect the Association Between Comorbidity, Physical Activity and Frailty in Older People? Findings from the Southampton Longitudinal Study of Ageing (SaLSA).
5 affiliations
- 1Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
- 2Living Well Partnership, Southampton SO19 9GH, UK.
- 3NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
- 4School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
- 5Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
Abstract
Background: Comorbidity is common in older adults and is associated with lower physical activity (PA) and greater frailty risk. We assessed whether relationship status affects these relationships, using the Southampton Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Methods: 448 community-dwelling older participants (median age of 80 years) were analysed. A questionnaire ascertained relationship status, number of comorbidities, PA (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) and frailty components (weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, low PA, low self-reported walking speed, difficulty carrying 10 lb). Associations of number of comorbidities with physical activity and number of frailty components were examined using linear and Poisson regression, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, BMI and smoking status and included an interaction term between number of comorbidities and relationship status. Sex-stratified analyses without interactions were also performed. Results: Evidence of interaction effects were weak (p > 0.14 for both tests). Among females, higher comorbidity was related to lower PA and a greater number of frailty components: difference in PA (95% CI) and multiplicative increase in number of frailty components (95% CI) per additional comorbidity was -0.10 (-0.17,-0.03) and 1.25 (1.16,1.34) respectively. Effect sizes for PA and number of frailty components were broadly similar among females when stratified according to relationship status. Associations were weaker among males (p > 0.27 for all associations). Conclusions: Evidence of relationship status modifying these associations was weak. Females with greater comorbidity had lower physical activity and more frailty components. Differences in observed strength of associations between males and females may reflect different comorbidity profiles.
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BibTeX
@article{laskou2026does,
title = {{Does Relationship Status Affect the Association Between Comorbidity, Physical Activity and Frailty in Older People? Findings from the Southampton Longitudinal Study of Ageing (SaLSA).}},
author = {Faidra Laskou and Leo D Westbury and Fiona Kirkham-Wilson and Gregorio Bevilacqua and Nicholas R Fuggle and Pritti Aggarwal and Elaine M Dennison and Harnish P Patel},
journal = {Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/geriatrics11050148},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930027},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Does Relationship Status Affect the Association Between Comorbidity, Physical Activity and Frailty in Older People? Findings from the Southampton Longitudinal Study of Ageing (SaLSA).
AU - Faidra Laskou
AU - Leo D Westbury
AU - Fiona Kirkham-Wilson
AU - Gregorio Bevilacqua
AU - Nicholas R Fuggle
AU - Pritti Aggarwal
AU - Elaine M Dennison
AU - Harnish P Patel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/geriatrics11050148
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930027
AB - Background: Comorbidity is common in older adults and is associated with lower physical activity (PA) and greater frailty risk. We assessed whether relationship status affects these relationships, using the Southampton Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Methods: 448 community-dwelling older participants (median age of 80 years) were analysed. A questionnaire ascertained relationship status, number of comorbidities, PA (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) and frailty components (weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, low PA, low self-reported walking speed, difficulty carrying 10 lb). Associations of number of comorbidities with physical activity and number of frailty components were examined using linear and Poisson regression, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, BMI and smoking status and included an interaction term between number of comorbidities and relationship status. Sex-stratified analyses without interactions were also performed. Results: Evidence of interaction effects were weak (p > 0.14 for both tests). Among females, higher comorbidity was related to lower PA and a greater number of frailty components: difference in PA (95% CI) and multiplicative increase in number of frailty components (95% CI) per additional comorbidity was -0.10 (-0.17,-0.03) and 1.25 (1.16,1.34) respectively. Effect sizes for PA and number of frailty components were broadly similar among females when stratified according to relationship status. Associations were weaker among males (p > 0.27 for all associations). Conclusions: Evidence of relationship status modifying these associations was weak. Females with greater comorbidity had lower physical activity and more frailty components. Differences in observed strength of associations between males and females may reflect different comorbidity profiles.
SN - 2308-3417
ER -