@article{ref1,
title="Physical performance in older age by sex and educational level: the HUNT Study",
journal="BMC geriatrics",
year="2022",
author="Melsæter, Kjerstin N. and Tangen, Gro G. and Skjellegrind, Håvard K. and Vereijken, Beatrix and Strand, Bjørn H. and Thingstad, Pernille",
volume="22",
number="1",
pages="e821-e821",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Population-based studies on physical performance provide important information on older people's health but rarely include the oldest and least-healthy segment of the population. The aim of this study was to provide representative estimates of physical performance by age, sex, and educational level based on recent data from a population-based health study in Norway that includes older people with a wide range in age and function. <br><br>METHODS: In the fourth wave of the Trøndelag Health Study (2017-2019), all participants aged 70 + were invited to an additional examination of physical performance assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), either by attending a testing station or by visits from ambulatory teams. The distribution and variation in SPPB total and subscores, as well as gait speed, are presented by sex, age, and educational level. <br><br>RESULTS: The SPPB was registered in 11,394 individuals; 54.8% were women; the age range was 70-105.4 years, with 1,891 persons aged 85 + . SPPB scores decreased by 0.27 points (men) and 0.33 points (women) for each year of age, and gait speed by 0.02 m/sec (men) and 0.03 m/sec (women). Using a frailty cut-off for gait speed at < 0.8 m/sec, the proportion of participants categorized as frail increased from 13.9% in the 70-74 years cohort to 73.9% in participants aged 85 + . Level of education [Formula: see text] 10 years corresponded to 6 years (men) and 4 years (women) earlier onset of frailty (SPPB [Formula: see text] 9) compared to education [Formula: see text] 14 years. <br><br>CONCLUSION: We found that the SPPB captured a gradual decline and wide distribution in physical performance in old age. The results provide information about physical performance, health status, and risk profiles at a population level and can serve as reference data for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare planners.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-2318",
doi="10.1186/s12877-022-03528-z",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03528-z"
}