Viability of gait speed test in hospitalized elderly patients / Viabilidade do teste de velocidade de marcha em idosos hospitalizados

ABSTRACT Objective: The gait speed test (GST) is a physical test that can predict falls and aid in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in the elderly. However, to our knowledge, there have been no studies evaluating its reproducibility in hospitalized elderly patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and reproducibility of the six-meter GST (6GST) in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: This repeated measures study involved hospitalized elderly patients (≥ 60 years of age) who underwent the 6GST by the fifth day of hospitalization, were able to walk without assistance, and presented no signs of dyspnea or pain that would prevent them from performing the test. The 6GST was performed three times in sequence, with a rest period between each test, in a level corridor. Gait speed was measured in meters/second. Reproducibility was assessed by comparing the means, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots. Results: We evaluated 110 elderly patients in a total of 330 tests. All participants completed all of the tests. The comparisons between the speeds obtained during the three tests showed high ICCs and a low mean bias (Bland-Altman plots). The correlation and accuracy were greatest when the mean maximum speed was compared with that obtained in the third test (1.26 ± 0.44 m/s vs. 1.22 ± 0.44 m/s; ICC = 0.99; p = 0.001; mean bias = 0.04; and limits of agreement = −0.27 to 0.15). Conclusions: The 6GST was proven to be safe and to have good reproducibility in this sample of hospitalized elderly patients. The third measurement seems to correspond to the maximum speed, since the first two measurements underestimated the actual performance.

RESUMO Objetivo: O teste de velocidade de marcha (TVM) é um teste físico que pode predizer quedas e auxiliar no diagnóstico de sarcopenia em idosos da comunidade. Entretanto, pelo que sabemos, não há estudos que avaliaram sua reprodutibilidade em idosos hospitalizados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a segurança e a reprodutibilidade do TVM de seis metros (TVM6) em idosos hospitalizados. Métodos: Estudo com medidas repetidas envolvendo idosos hospitalizados (idade ≥ 60 anos) que realizaram o TVM6 até o quinto dia de hospitalização, sendo capazes de andar sem auxílio e não apresentando dispneia ou dor que os incapacitasse para a realização dos testes. O TVM6 foi realizado sequencialmente três vezes, com período de descanso, em um corredor plano, e a velocidade de marcha foi calculada em metros/segundo. A reprodutibilidade foi avaliada pela comparação das médias, coeficientes de correlação intraclasse (CCI) e disposições gráficas de Bland-Altman. Resultados: Foram avaliados 110 idosos avaliados com um total de 330 testes. Todos os participantes completaram todos os testes. As comparações entre as velocidades obtidas nos três testes realizados indicaram CCIs elevados e viés médio baixo pela disposição gráfica de Bland-Altman. Em relação à maior velocidade aferida, a correlação e a precisão foram maiores quando comparadas à obtida no terceiro teste (1,26 ± 0,44 m/s vs. 1,22 ± 0,44 m/s; CCI = 0,99; p = 0,001; viés médio = 0,04; e limites de concordância = −0,27 a 0,15). Conclusões: O TVM6 mostrou-se seguro e teve boa reprodutibilidade nessa amostra de idosos hospitalizados. A terceira aferição parece corresponder à velocidade máxima, já que duas primeiras subestimaram o desempenho real.

Accuracy of the Timed Up and Go test for predicting sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients

OBJECTIVES: The ability of the Timed Up and Go test to predict sarcopenia has not been evaluated previously. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Timed Up and Go test for predicting sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 68 elderly patients (≥60 years of age) in a private hospital in the city of Salvador-BA, Brazil, between the 1st and 5th day of hospitalization. The predictive variable was the Timed Up and Go test score, and the outcome of interest was the presence of sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass associated with a reduction in handgrip strength and/or weak physical performance in a 6-m gait-speed test). After the descriptive data analyses, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of a test using the predictive variable to predict the presence of sarcopenia were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 68 elderly individuals, with a mean age 70.4±7.7 years, were evaluated. The subjects had a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 5.35±1.97. Most (64.7%) of the subjects had a clinical admission profile; the main reasons for hospitalization were cardiovascular disorders (22.1%), pneumonia (19.1%) and abdominal disorders (10.2%). The frequency of sarcopenia in the sample was 22.1%, and the mean length of time spent performing the Timed Up and Go test was 10.02±5.38 s. A time longer than or equal to a cutoff of 10.85 s on the Timed Up and Go test predicted sarcopenia with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 88.7%. The accuracy of this cutoff for the Timed Up and Go test was good (0.80; IC=0.66-0.94; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The Timed Up and Go test was shown to be a predictor of sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients. .