OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and associated health factors of indoor mobility-related fatigability in nonagenarians. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study of all Danes born in 1905 and assessed in 1998. SETTING: Community, sheltered housing and nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 92 and 93 (N = 1,181) who were independent of help in basic indoor mobility. MEASUREMENTS: Fatigability in basic indoor mobility was defined as a subjective feeling of fatigue when transferring or walking indoors. Other standardized assessments include self-report measures of medical history and performance-based assessments of walking speed and maximum handgrip strength. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of participants reported fatigability when transferring or walking indoors; fatigability was more common in participants living in sheltered housing (32%) than in those living independently (23%, P < .001). Cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal pain, medications, walking speed, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with fatigability. CONCLUSION: Fatigability in basic everyday mobility is common in nondisabled nonagenarians. The results also indicate important associations between fatigability and potentially modifiable health factors.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and associated health factors of indoor mobility-related fatigability in nonagenarians. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study of all Danes born in 1905 and assessed in 1998. SETTING: Community, sheltered housing and nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 92 and 93 (N = 1,181) who were independent of help in basic indoor mobility. MEASUREMENTS: Fatigability in basic indoor mobility was defined as a subjective feeling of fatigue when transferring or walking indoors. Other standardized assessments include self-report measures of medical history and performance-based assessments of walking speed and maximum handgrip strength. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of participants reported fatigability when transferring or walking indoors; fatigability was more common in participants living in sheltered housing (32%) than in those living independently (23%, P < .001). Cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal pain, medications, walking speed, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with fatigability. CONCLUSION: Fatigability in basic everyday mobility is common in nondisabled nonagenarians. The results also indicate important associations between fatigability and potentially modifiable health factors.
Authors: Minna Mänty; Carlos F Mendes de Leon; Taina Rantanen; Pertti Era; Agnes N Pedersen; Anette Ekmann; Marianne Schroll; Kirsten Avlund Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2011-10-19 Impact factor: 6.053