Changes in gait speed of 0.10 to 0.20 m s(-1 ) may be important across multiple patient groups
RATIONALE , AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Walking speed is an important performance variable , but information on the minimal clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) for the measure has not been consoli date d. In this review , we aim ed to summarize information on the MCID for change in comfortable gait speed measurements for patients with pathology .
Physical performance measures in the clinical setting.
OBJECTIVES To assess the ability of gait speed alone and a three-item lower extremity performance battery to predict 12-month rates of hospitalization , decline in health , and decline in function in primary care setting s serving older adults . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING Primary care programs of a Medicare health maintenance organization ( HMO ) and Veterans Affairs ( VA ) system . PARTICIPANTS Four hundred eighty-seven persons aged 65 and older . MEASUREMENTS  Lower extremity performance Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly ( EPESE ) battery including  gait speed , chair st and s , and t and em balance tests ; demographics ; health care use ; health status ; functional status ; probability of repeated admission scale ( Pra ) ; and primary physician 's hospitalization risk estimate . RESULTS Veterans had poorer health and higher use than HMO members . Gait speed alone and the EPESE battery predicted hospitalization ; 41 % ( 21/51 ) of slow walkers ( gait speed < 0.6 m/s ) were hospitalized at least once , compared with 26 % ( 70/266 ) of intermediate walkers ( 0.6 - 1.0 m/s ) and 11 % ( 15/136 ) of fast walkers ( > 1.0 m/s ) ( P < .0001 ) . The relationship was stronger in the HMO than in the VA . Both performance measures remained independent predictors after accounting for Pra . The EPESE battery was superior to gait speed when both Pra and primary physician 's risk estimate were included . Both performance measures predicted decline in function and health status in both health systems . Performance measures , alone or in combination with self-report measures , were more able to predict outcomes than self-report alone . CONCLUSION Gait speed and a physical performance battery are brief , quantitative estimates of future risk for hospitalization and decline in health and function in clinical population s of older adults . Physical performance measures might serve as easily accessible " vital signs " to screen older adults in clinical setting
Changes in gait speed of 0.10 to 0.20 m s(-1 ) may be important across multiple patient groups
RATIONALE , AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Walking speed is an important performance variable , but information on the minimal clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) for the measure has not been consoli date d. In this review , we aim ed to summarize information on the MCID for change in comfortable gait speed measurements for patients with pathology .