Abstract
BackgroundReduced gait speed is associated with falls, late-life disability, hospitalization/institutionalization and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Aging is also accompanied by a widening of pulse pressure (PP) that contributes to ventricular-vascular uncoupling. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that PP is associated with long-distance gait speed in community-dwelling older adults in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study.MethodsBrachial blood pressure and 400-meter gait speed (average speed maintained over a 400-meter walk at “usual” pace) were assessed in 424 older adults between the ages of 70–89 yrs at risk for mobility disability (mean age = 77 yrs; 31% male). PP was calculated as systolic blood pressure (BP) – diastolic BP.ResultsPatients with a history of heart failure and stroke (n = 42) were excluded leaving 382 participants for final analysis. When categorized into tertiles of PP, participants within the highest PP tertile had significantly slower gait speed than those within the lowest PP tertile (p<0.05). Following stepwise multiple regression, PP was significantly and inversely associated with 400-meter gait speed (p<0.05). Other significant predictors of gait speed included: handgrip strength, body weight, age and history of diabetes mellitus (p<0.05). Mean arterial pressure, systolic BP and diastolic BP were not predictors of gait speed.ConclusionsPulse pressure is associated long-distance gait speed in community-dwelling older adults. Vascular senescence and altered ventricular-vascular coupling may be associated with the deterioration of mobility and physical function in older adults.
Highlights
A critical factor in an older person’s ability to function independently is the ability to move without assistance
The purpose of this study was to examine the association of the steady (MAP) and pulsatile (PP) components of Blood pressure (BP) with usual long distance gait speed measured during a 400-MWT in a large group of community-dwelling older adults at risk for mobility disability from The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence For Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) investigation
pulse pressure (PP) was calculated as systolic blood pressure (SBP) – diastolic blood pressure (DBP)
Summary
A critical factor in an older person’s ability to function independently is the ability to move without assistance. There is a general decline in gait speed. Reduced gait speed has been associated with falls, late-life disability, hospitalization and institutionalization [4]. Reduced gait speed has been shown to be associated with several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors [5,6,7], increased risk for ischemic stroke [8] and cardiovascular mortality [9]. Improving gait speed reduces mortality in older adults [10]. Reduced gait speed is associated with falls, late-life disability, hospitalization/institutionalization and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that PP is associated with longdistance gait speed in community-dwelling older adults in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study
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