OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of and factors related to nondisabled but functionally limited older adults aged 75 to 85 years losing the ability to walk 400 m. DESIGN: Observational study with average follow-up of 21 months. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: At baseline, 101 persons with objective signs of functional limitations and intact cognitive function agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 81 were able to walk 400 m at baseline, and 62 participated in the follow-up examination. MEASUREMENTS: Mobility disability was defined as an inability to complete a 400-m walk test. At baseline, eligible participants (n=81) had the ability to walk 400 m, scored between 4 and 9 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; range 0-12), and scored 18 or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Demographics, difficulty in daily activities, disease status, behavioral risk factors, and muscle strength were assessed at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Of 62 persons at follow-up, 21 (33.9%) developed incident mobility disability. The strongest predictors of loss of mobility were the time to complete the 400-m walk at baseline (odds ratio (OR)=1.6 per 1-minute difference, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04-2.45), and decline in SPPB score over the follow-up (OR=1.4 per 1-point difference, 95% CI=1.01-1.92). CONCLUSION: Older persons with functional limitations have a high rate of loss of ability to walk 400 m. The 400-m walk test is a highly relevant, discrete outcome that is an ideal target for testing preventive interventions in vulnerable older populations.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of and factors related to nondisabled but functionally limited older adults aged 75 to 85 years losing the ability to walk 400 m. DESIGN: Observational study with average follow-up of 21 months. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: At baseline, 101 persons with objective signs of functional limitations and intact cognitive function agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 81 were able to walk 400 m at baseline, and 62 participated in the follow-up examination. MEASUREMENTS: Mobility disability was defined as an inability to complete a 400-m walk test. At baseline, eligible participants (n=81) had the ability to walk 400 m, scored between 4 and 9 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; range 0-12), and scored 18 or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Demographics, difficulty in daily activities, disease status, behavioral risk factors, and muscle strength were assessed at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Of 62 persons at follow-up, 21 (33.9%) developed incident mobility disability. The strongest predictors of loss of mobility were the time to complete the 400-m walk at baseline (odds ratio (OR)=1.6 per 1-minute difference, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04-2.45), and decline in SPPB score over the follow-up (OR=1.4 per 1-point difference, 95% CI=1.01-1.92). CONCLUSION: Older persons with functional limitations have a high rate of loss of ability to walk 400 m. The 400-m walk test is a highly relevant, discrete outcome that is an ideal target for testing preventive interventions in vulnerable older populations.
Authors: Anthony P Marsh; Michael E Miller; Aaron M Saikin; W Jack Rejeski; Nan Hu; Fulvio Lauretani; Stefania Bandinelli; Jack M Guralnik; Luigi Ferrucci Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2006-11 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Mark A Espeland; Thomas M Gill; Jack Guralnik; Michael E Miller; Roger Fielding; Anne B Newman; Marco Pahor Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Sonja Vestergaard; Kushang V Patel; Michael P Walkup; Marco Pahor; Anthony P Marsh; Mark A Espeland; Stephanie Studenski; Thomas M Gill; Timothy Church; Jack M Guralnik Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-12-10 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Thomas M Gill; Jack M Guralnik; Marco Pahor; Timothy Church; Roger A Fielding; Abby C King; Anthony P Marsh; Anne B Newman; Christine A Pellegrini; Shyh-Huei Chen; Heather G Allore; Michael E Miller Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2016-09-27 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Sarinnapha Vasunilashorn; Antonia K Coppin; Kushang V Patel; Fulvio Lauretani; Luigi Ferrucci; Stefania Bandinelli; Jack M Guralnik Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2009-01-31 Impact factor: 6.053