TY - JOUR
T1 - Trajectories of gait speed predict mortality in well-functioning older adults
T2 - The health, aging and body composition study
AU - White, Daniel K.
AU - Neogi, Tuhina
AU - Nevitt, Michael C.
AU - Peloquin, Christine E.
AU - Zhu, Yanyan
AU - Boudreau, Robert M.
AU - Cauley, Jane A.
AU - Ferrucci, Luigi
AU - Harris, Tamara B.
AU - Satterfield, Susan M.
AU - Simonsick, Eleanor M.
AU - Strotmeyer, Elsa S.
AU - Zhang, Yuqing
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding This work was supported by National Institute on Aging (NIA) (grant numbers N01-AG-6-2101, N01-AG-6-2103, N01-AG-6-2106, R01-AG028050) the National Institute of Nursing Research (grant number R01-NR0124590; the Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center from the National Institutes on Aging (grant number P30-AG031679); the Foundation for Physical Therapy Geriatrics Research Grant; the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Rheumatology Investigator Award; and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin at the National Institutes of Health (grant number AR47785).
PY - 2013/4
Y1 - 2013/4
N2 - Background.Although gait speed slows with age, the rate of slowing varies greatly. To date, little is known about the trajectories of gait speed, their correlates, and their risk for mortality in older adults.Methods.Gait speed during a 20-m walk was measured for a period of 8 years in initially well-functioning men and women aged 70-79 years participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. We described the trajectories of gait speed and examined their correlates using a group-based mixture model. Also risk associated with different gait speed trajectories on all-cause mortality was estimated using a Cox-proportional hazard model.Results.Of 2,364 participants (mean age, 73.5±2.9 years; 52% women), we identified three gait speed trajectories: slow (n 637), moderate (n 1,209), and fast decline (n 518). Those with fast decline slowed 0.030 m/s per year or 2.4% per year from baseline to the last follow-up visit. Women, blacks, and participants who were obese, had limited knee extensor strength, and had low physical activity were more likely to have fast decline than their counterparts. Participants with fast decline in gait speed had a 90% greater risk of mortality than those with slow decline.Conclusion.Despite being well-functioning at baseline, a quarter of older adults experienced fast decline in gait speed, which was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
AB - Background.Although gait speed slows with age, the rate of slowing varies greatly. To date, little is known about the trajectories of gait speed, their correlates, and their risk for mortality in older adults.Methods.Gait speed during a 20-m walk was measured for a period of 8 years in initially well-functioning men and women aged 70-79 years participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. We described the trajectories of gait speed and examined their correlates using a group-based mixture model. Also risk associated with different gait speed trajectories on all-cause mortality was estimated using a Cox-proportional hazard model.Results.Of 2,364 participants (mean age, 73.5±2.9 years; 52% women), we identified three gait speed trajectories: slow (n 637), moderate (n 1,209), and fast decline (n 518). Those with fast decline slowed 0.030 m/s per year or 2.4% per year from baseline to the last follow-up visit. Women, blacks, and participants who were obese, had limited knee extensor strength, and had low physical activity were more likely to have fast decline than their counterparts. Participants with fast decline in gait speed had a 90% greater risk of mortality than those with slow decline.Conclusion.Despite being well-functioning at baseline, a quarter of older adults experienced fast decline in gait speed, which was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
KW - Gait speed
KW - Mortality
KW - Older adults
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U2 - 10.1093/gerona/gls197
DO - 10.1093/gerona/gls197
M3 - Article
C2 - 23051974
AN - SCOPUS:84875196441
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 68
SP - 456
EP - 464
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 4
ER -