Activity limitation of clinically slow elderly individuals

Abstract

Objectives: quantify the activity limitation (AL) of clinically slow elderly individuals (CSE); and,investigate the inter-relationship of AL status with body function and participation restriction. In a retrospective study at a PMR clinic, 28 community dwelling elderly individuals participated (age range 65-85 years old) labeled as clinically slow (defined as < 2.2 miles per hour by 6-Minute Walk Test). The PROMIS-57 v1.0 physical function sub-scale (PROMIS-PF) from the National of Institute (NIH) toolbox was designated as the patient-reported outcome (PRO) to describe activity limitation (AL). The clinician-derived Performance-based Assessments (PBA) also were used to describe AL and included the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The PROMIS-57 v1.0 fatigue (PROMIS-FA) and sleep disturbance (PROMIS-SD) sub-scales assessed body function, and the satisfaction with social role sub-scale (PROMIS-SSR) quantified participation restriction. Data met normality assumptions; mean differences were examined among variables using ANOVA with age as a covariate. Age did not differ significantly among participants. Descriptive statistics and significance tests are provided for each variable, followed by a Pearson Correlation analysis split by gender (significant P ≤ 0.05). The mean (SD) score were as follows (female, male): PROMIS-PF T -scores 34.10 (5.70), 40.14 (8.82); DGI 13.76 (3.91), 22.10 (3.60); BBS 39.88 (8.28), 48.8 (7.06); PROMIS-FA 55.71 (12.30), 56.10 (3.97); PROMIS-SSR 51.53 (9.15), 46.50 (9.68). In females, PROMIS-PF correlated with PROMIS-FA ( r = −.474, P = .04). In males, DGI correlated with PROMIS-FA ( r = −.771, P = .042). CSE tend to have moderate to severe AL and moderate PR, while their body function tend to be within population mean. The AL of CSE had a statistically significant correlation with the body function (specifically fatigue) in both genders. These findings support the importance of assessing AL in these individuals, along with the BF and PR. Further research should be conducted on the inter-relationship relationships of BF, AL, and PR in other geriatric syndromes.