Background
Methods
Study design and participants
Data collection
Gait parameters
Statistical analyses
Results
Study sample characteristics
Variable | Males (n = 461) | Females (n = 429) | All (n = 890) | t-value, c2-value, and P Value (t-test/ Chi-square test) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mean age, y | 75.5 (6.3) | 75.3 (6.2) | 75.4 (6.3) | t(0.59), p = 0.5582 |
Falls, n (%) | 48 (10.4%) | 71 (16.6%) | 119 (13.4%) | c2(1) = 7.23, p = 0.0072 |
Recurrent falls, n (%) | 14 (3.0%) | 26 (6.1%) | 40 (4.5%) | c2(2) = 7.92, p = 0.0191 |
Multimorbidity*, n (%) | 283 (61.4%) | 278 (64.8%) | 561 (63.0%) | c2(1) = 1.11, p = 0.2918 |
Disability+, n (%) | 70 (15.2%) | 104 (24.2%) | 174 (19.6%) | c2(1) = 11.6, p = 0.0007 |
Frailty**, n (%) | 176 (38.2%) | 154 (35.9%) | 330 (37.1%) | c2(1) = 0.50, p = 0.4816 |
Use of ≥ 5 prescribed drugs++, n (%) | 146 (31.7%) | 125 (29.1%) | 271 (30.5%) | c2(1) = 0.67, p = 0.4120 |
Mean BMI, kg/m2 | 28.3 (3.6) | 28.2 (4.5) | 28.2 (4.1) | t(0.12), p = 0.9061 |
Mean weight, kg | 82.7 (12.1) | 70.5 (11.9) | 76.8 (13.5) | t(15.25), p < .0001 |
Mean height, cm | 171 (6.8) | 158 (6.2) | 164.7 (9.2) | t(29.89), p < .0001 |
Gait parameter characteristics
Characteristics | Velocity (cm/s) | Cadence (steps/min) | Time (s) | Stride duration* (s) | Stride length (cm) | Normed stride length | Step width (cm) | Normed step width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall participants (n = 119) | 105.5 (24.7) | 106.3 (12.2) | 4.12 (1.29) | 1.14 (0.15) |
118.9 (20.4)
|
1.34 (0.23)
| 8.79 (3.25) | 0.10 (0.04) |
Non-fall participants (n = 771) | 108.9 (22.9) | 105.4 (13.1) | 3.89 (1.14) | 1.14 (0.16) |
124.0 (18.1)
|
1.40 (0.19)
| 8.73 (3.22) | 0.10 (0.04) |
t- and p-value | t(−1.43), p = 0.1550 | t(0.77), p = 0.4437 | t(1.83), p = 0.0686 | t(−0.65), p = 0.5170 |
t(−2.59), p = 0.0106
|
t(−2.80), p = 0.0052
| t(0.18), p = 0.8541 | t(0.21), p = 0.8310 |
Frail participants (n = 330) |
95.5 (21.2)
|
101.9 (13.2)
|
4.53 (1.34)
|
1.19 (0.18)
|
112.5 (17.5)
|
1.28 (0.19)
|
9.58 (3.31)
|
0.09 (0.03)
|
Non-frail participants (n = 560) |
116.2 (20.7)
|
107.7 (12.4)
|
3.56 (0.87)
|
1.13 (0.15)
|
129.8 (15.9)
|
1.46 (0.16)
|
8.24 (3.06)
|
0.11 (0.04)
|
t- and p-value |
t(14.16), p = <.0001
|
t(6.46), p = <.0001
|
t(−13.09), p = <.0001
|
t(−6.13), p = <.0001
|
t(14.74), p = <.0001
|
t(−6.01), p = <.0001
|
t(14.83), p = <.0001
|
t(−6.46), p = <.0001
|
Multimorbid participants (n = 561) |
104.4 (22.5)
|
104.6 (12.6)
|
4.09 (1.22)
|
1.16 (0.16)
|
119.7 (18.6)
|
1.46 (0.18)
|
9.06 (3.22)
|
0.09 (0.04)
|
Not multimorbid participants (n = 329) |
115.5 (22.6)
|
107.2 (13.4)
|
3.62 (0.99)
|
1.13 (0.17)
|
129.5 (16.6)
|
1.35 (0.19)
|
8.20 (3.15)
|
0.10 (0.04)
|
t- and p-value |
t(7.12), p = <.0001
|
t(2.84), p = 0.0046
|
t(−5.96), p = <.0001
|
t(−2.30), p = 0.0220
|
t(7.86), p = <.0001
|
t(−3.88), p = 0.0001
|
t(8.24), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.15), p = <.0001
|
Disabled participants (n = 174) |
91.5 (19.9)
|
101.3 (11.9)
|
4.76 (1.39)
|
1.20 (0.17)
|
108.6 (18.1)
|
1.43 (0.18)
|
9.68 (3.31)
|
0.10 (0.04)
|
Non-disabled participants (n = 716) |
112.6 (22.0)
|
106.6 (13.0)
|
3.71 (1.00)
|
1.14 (0.16)
|
126.9 (16.8)
|
1.33 (0.19)
|
8.51 (3.16)
|
0.11 (0.04)
|
t- and p-value |
t(12.31), p = <.0001
|
t(5.13), p = <.0001
|
t(−11.45), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.18), p = <.0001
|
t(12.17), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.22), p = <.0001
|
t(12.19), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.56), p = <.0001
|
Participants taking 5 and more drugs (n = 271) |
101.3 (23.2)
|
103.3 (13.9)
|
4.26 (1.34)
|
1.18 (0.18)
|
117.5 (18.7)
|
1.42 (0.19)
|
9.38 (3.48)
|
0.10 (0.03)
|
Participants taking less than 5 drugs (n = 619) |
111.6 (22.5)
|
106.5 (12.4)
|
3.77 (1.05)
|
1.14 (0.15)
|
125.9 (17.8)
|
1.32 (0.20)
|
8.46 (3.06)
|
0.11 (0.04)
|
t- and p-value |
t(6.19), p = <.0001
|
t(3.37), p = 0.0008
|
t(−5.93), p = <.0001
|
t(−3.12), p = 0.0018
|
t(6.22), p = <.0001
|
t(−3.94), p = <.0001
|
t(6.75), p = <.0001
|
t(−3.99), p = <.0001
|
“Young old” (age < 75, n = 410) |
117.9 (21.5)
|
108.4 (11.8)
|
3.52 (0.91)
|
1.12 (0.13)
|
130.5 (16.6)
|
1.47 (0.18)
|
8.26 (3.10)
|
0.09 (0.03)
|
“Old Old” (age > = 75, n = 480) |
100.5 (21.5)
|
103.0 (13.4)
|
4.36 (1.25)
|
1.18 (0.18)
|
117.2 (17.8)
|
1.32 (0.18)
|
9.15 (3.26)
|
0.10 (0.04)
|
t- and p-value |
t(12.03), p = <.0001
|
t(6.31), p = <.0001
|
t(−9.99), p = <.0001
|
t(−6.28), p = <.0001
|
t(11.5), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.17), p = <.0001
|
t(11.81), p = <.0001
|
t(−4.54), p = <.0001
|
Men (n = 461) |
110.1 (23.0)
|
102.6 (11.7)
|
3.82 (1.13)
|
1.18 (1.17)
|
128.7 (19.1)
|
1.42 (0.20)
|
9.45 (3.43)
|
0.10 (0.04)
|
Women (n = 429) |
106.8 (23.2)
|
108.7 (13.5)
|
4.02 (1.20)
|
1.12 (1.10)
|
117.6 (15.9)
|
1.36 (0.18)
|
8.05 (2.94)
|
0.09 (0.03)
|
t- and p-value |
t(2.12), p = 0.0344
|
t(−7.14), p = <.0001
|
t(−2.6), p = 0.0094
|
t(5.99), p = <.0001
|
t(9.36), p = <.0001
|
t(6.54), p = <.0001
|
t(3.89), p = 0.0001
|
t(4.44), p = <.0001
|
Logistic regression analysis
Velocity (10 cm/s decrease) | Unadjusted model | Model 1 | Model 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Age 65 to 74 years
| 0.91 (0.78-1.05) | 0.91 (0.77-1.08) | 0.89 (0.75-1.06) |
Men | 0.97 (0.76-1.24) | 1.06 (0.81-1.38) | 1.06 (0.81-1.39) |
Women | 0.86 (0.72-1.04) | 0.83 (0.67-1.03) | 0.80 (0.64-1.00) |
Age >74 years
|
1.14 (1.02-1.28)
| 1.10 (0.96-1.26) | 1.09 (0.95-1.26) |
Men |
1.20 (1.01-1.43)
| 1.18 (0.97-1.43) | 1.16 (0.96-1.42) |
Women | 1.07 (0.91-1.26) | 1.00 (0.82-1.22) | 1.00 (0.82-1.23) |
Stride length (10 cm decrease)
|
Unadjusted model
|
Model 1
|
Model 2
|
Age 65 to 74 years
| 0.93 (0.77-1.12) | 0.94 (0.77-1.16) | 0.92 (0.75-1.14) |
Men | 0.87 (0.64-1.19) | 0.94 (0.67-1.33) | 0.93 (0.65-1.33) |
Women | 0.82 (0.61-1.10) | 0.77 (0.55-1.07) | 0.70 (0.50-1.00) |
Age >74 years
|
1.30 (1.12-1.50)
|
1.27 (1.07-1.51)
|
1.25 (1.04-1.49)
|
Men |
1.33 (1.09-1.63)
|
1.36 (1.07-1.72)
|
1.34 (1.05-1.70)
|
Women | 1.18 (0.93-1.50) | 1.10 (0.83-1.47) | 1.08 (0.81-1.45) |