Gait speed as a predictor of survival in geriatric patients

January 01, 0001

Gait speed as a predictor of survival in geriatric patients

These US and European researchers sought to evaluate gait speed as a predictor for survival. They pooled 9 cohort studies (a total of 34 485 community-dwelling geriatric enrollees) with baseline gait speed data. They were followed up to to 21 years.

The researchers found: "There were 17,528 deaths. The overall 5-year survival rate was 84.8% and 10-year survival rate was 59.7%. Gait speed was associated with survival in all studies (pooled hazard ratio per 0.1 m/s, 0.88). Survival increased across the full range of gait speeds, with significant increments per 0.1 m/s. At age 75, predicted 10-year survival across the range of gait speeds ranged from 19% to 87% in men and from 35% to 91% in women. Predicted survival based on age, sex, and gait speed was as accurate as predicted based on age, sex, use of mobility aids, and self- reported function or as age, sex, chronic conditions, smoking history, blood pressure, body mass index, and hospitalization."

The researchers concluded: "In this pooled analysis of individual data from 9 selected cohorts, gait speed was associated with survival in older adults."

This study suggests gait speed may be useful in estimating survival in geriatric patients


For the full abstract, click here.

JAMA 305(1):50-58, 5 January 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
Gait Speed and Survival in Older Adults. Stephanie Studenski, Subashan Perera, Kushang Patel, et al.

Category: A. General/Unspecified, M. Muskuloskeletal. Keywords: gait speed, walking, survival, geriatric, prognosis, cohort, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 18 January 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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