Factors associated with lower gait speed among the elderly living in a developing country: a cross-sectional population-based study

BMC Geriatrics

Research Article

Maria Lucia Lebrão¹  Yeda Aparecida Duarte²  Daniella Pires Nunes²  Anelise dos Santos Rodrigues³  Telma de Almeida Busch³  Edson Amaro⁴  Michel Satya Naslavsky⁵ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 670, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 670, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Human Genome Research Center, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;

关键词: Gait;    Aged;    Older adults;    Walking speed;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-015-0031-2

 received in 2014-09-28, accepted in 2015-03-12,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAmong community-dwelling older adults, mean values for gait speed vary substantially depending not only on the population studied, but also on the methodology used. Despite the large number of studies published in developed countries, there are few population-based studies in developing countries with socioeconomic inequality and different health conditions, and this is the first study with a representative sample of population. To explore this, the association of lower gait speed with sociodemographic, anthropometric factors, mental status and physical health was incorporated participants’ weight (main weight) in the analysis of population of community-dwelling older adults living in a developing country.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional population based on a sample of 1112 older adults aged 60 years and over from Health, Wellbeing and Aging Study cohort 2010. Usual gait speed (s) to walk 3 meters was stratified by sex and height into quartiles. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent effect of each factor associated with a slower usual gait speed.ResultsThe average walking speed of the elderly was 0.81 m/s – 0.78 m/s among women and 0.86 m/s among men. In the final model, the factors associated with lower gait speed were age (OR = 3.56), literacy (OR = 3.20), difficulty in one or more IADL (OR = 2.74), presence of cardiovascular disease (OR = 2.15) and sedentarism. When we consider the 50% slower, we can add the variables handgrip strength, and the presence of COPD.ConclusionsGait speed is a clinical marker and an important measure of functional capacity among the elderly. Our findings suggest that lower walking speed is associated with age, education, but especially with modifiable factors such as impairment of IADL, physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease. These results reinforce how important it is for the elderly to remain active and healthy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Busch et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015