Citation

do Carmo Correia de Lima M, Loffredo Bilton T, Jefferson de Sousa Soares W, Paccini Lustosa L, Ferriolli E, Rodrigues Perracini M. J. Fraility Aging 2019; 8(1): 39-41.

Affiliation

Monica Rodrigues Perracini, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; monica.perracini@unicid.edu.br.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Journal of frailty and aging)

DOI

10.14283/jfa.2018.44

PMID

30734830

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.

Language: en

Keywords

Usual gait speed; fast gait speed; likelihood ratios; sensitivity; specificity