The impact of gait speed on mortality among Japanese elderly in a New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project: A prospective cohort study

Zhao, Wenjing

The impact of gait speed on mortality among Japanese elderly in a New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project: A prospective cohort study

Monday, 18 August 2014: 4:30 PM

Ballroom D (Dena'ina Center)

Wenjing Zhao , Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Shigekazu Ukawa, PhD , Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Kazuyo Tsushita, PhD , Aichi Health Promotion Public Interest Foundation Comprehensive Health Science Center, Aichi, Japan

Takashi Kawamura, PhD , Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Kenji Wakai, PhD , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

Masahiko Ando, PhD , Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan

Satoe Okabayashi, MPH , Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Madoka Matsushita, MD , Aichi Health Promotion Public Interest Foundation Comprehensive Health Science Center, Aichi, Japan

Junko Oikawa, MD , Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Reiji Kojima, MD , Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Akiko Tamakoshi, PhD , Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

INTRODUCTION:

Although there is a well-established association between gait speed and all-cause mortality in western countries, data from Japan is lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of gait speed on mortality among younger-elderly Japanese in order to establish practical guidelines for longevity and successful aging.

METHODS:

In total 1457 community-dwelling citizens (708 men and 749 women) approaching 65 years were enrolled in the project between 1996 and 2001, and were followed to age 75 years. Cox proportional hazard model was applied to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality and 95% confidence intervals (CI) according to gait speed and daily walking.

RESULTS:

During the total 15,386 person-year of follow-up, 150 persons (114 men and 36 women) died. For men, slow gait speed was significantly associated with an increased risk of death after adjustment for potential confounders such as survey year, marital status, work status, education, smoking, drinking, body mass index and medical status (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.88). For women, slow gait speed tended to be associated with increased mortality risk after full adjustment (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 0.83, 4.14). This association was greater among participants who walked less than 1 hour/day for men (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.62, 5.10) and those who walked more than 1 hour/day for women (HR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.48, 8.79).

CONCLUSIONS: Slow gait speed is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among the younger elderly.