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Maximum Walking Speed Can Improve the Diagnostic Value of Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults a Cross-Sectional Study

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  • Physical Frailty
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Abstract

This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the combination of usual walking speed (UWS) and maximum walking speed (MWS) to identify frailty in community-dwelling older adults. A population-based study with 758 participants aged 65 and older was conducted. Frailty syndrome was determined using the Fried phenotype. UWS and MWS were evaluated in a 4.6-meter path. Both measures were categorized using the 1.0 m/s cut points, and participants were categorized into three groups: those with “very good”, “good” and “insufficient” walking reserve capacity (WRC). Of all participants, 9% were identified as frail and 47% as prefrail. The “insufficient” WRC presented a low sensitivity of 0.55, high specificity of 0.91 and moderately useful likelihood ratios (LR+ 6.57, LR- 0.48) to identify frailty. Based on Fagan’s nomogram, an elder’s corresponding post-test probability of being frail with an “insufficient” WRC would be around 40%, which substantially increased the diagnostic accuracy of frailty.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    M. Do Carmo Correia de Lima & Monica Rodrigues Perracini

  2. Human Science and Health College, Pontificia Universidade Catolica, São Paulo, Brazil

    T. Loffredo Bilton

  3. Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    W. Jefferson De Sousa Soares & Monica Rodrigues Perracini

  4. Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    L. Paccini Lustosa

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

    E. Ferriolli

Authors
  1. M. Do Carmo Correia de Lima
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  2. T. Loffredo Bilton
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  3. W. Jefferson De Sousa Soares
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  4. L. Paccini Lustosa
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  5. E. Ferriolli
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  6. Monica Rodrigues Perracini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monica Rodrigues Perracini.

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Do Carmo Correia de Lima, M., Loffredo Bilton, T., De Sousa Soares, W.J. et al. Maximum Walking Speed Can Improve the Diagnostic Value of Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults a Cross-Sectional Study. J Frailty Aging 8, 39–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2018.44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2018.44

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