Association of clinical outcome assessments of mobility capacity and incident disability in community-dwelling older adults - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Braun Tobias , Thiel Christian , Peter Raphael Simon , Bahns Carolin , Büchele Gisela , Rapp Kilian , Becker Clemens , Grüneberg Christian 
Published: March 2022

IMPORTANCE

The predictive value of common performance-based outcome assessments of mobility capacity on incident disability in activities of daily living in community-dwelling older adults remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize all available research on the association between mobility capacity and incident disability in non-disabled older adults.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched without any limits or restrictions.

STUDY SELECTION

Published reports of longitudinal cohort studies that estimated a direct association between baseline mobility capacity, assessed with a standardized outcome assessment, and subsequent development of disability, including initially non-disabled older adults.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data extraction was completed by independent pairs of reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Random-effect models were used to explore the objective. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

The main outcome measures were the pooled relative risks (RR) per one conventional unit per mobility assessment for incident disability in activities of daily living.

RESULTS

A total of 40 reports were included, evaluating 85,515 and 78,379 participants at baseline and follow-up, respectively (median mean age: 74.6 years). The median disability rate at follow-up was 12.0% (IQR: 5.4%–23.3%). The overall risk of bias was judged as low, moderate and high in 6 (15%), 6 (15%), and 28 (70%) reports, respectively.

For usual and fast gait speed, the RR per -0.1 m/s was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.18–1.28; 26,638 participants) and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.19–1.38; 8,161 participants), respectively. Each point decrease in Short Physical Performance Battery score increased the risk of incident disability by 30% (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.23– 1.38; 9,183 participants). The RR of incident disability by each second increase in Timed Up and Go test and Chair Rise Test performance was 1.15 (95% CI: 1.09–1.21; 30,426 participants) and 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04–1.10; 9,450 participants), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among community-dwelling non-disabled older adults, a poor mobility capacity is a potent modifiable risk factor for incident disability. Mobility impairment should be mandated as a quality indicator of health for older people.

Key Points

QUESTION

What are the associations between clinical outcome assessments of mobility capacity and incident disability in community-dwelling older adults?

FINDINGS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis that included 40 reports and data of 85,515 older adults, the risk ratios of incident disability on activities of daily living were 1.23, 1.30, 1.15, and 1.07 for usual gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery, Timed Up and Go test, and Chair Rise Test, respectively, per one conventional unit.

MEANING

Common assessments of mobility capacity may help identify older people at risk of incident disability and should be routinely established in regular health examinations.