Low Physical Performance Could Be Associated with Adverse Health Outcomes over Time: Results from a Cohort of Older Adults

Darlise Rodrigues dos Passos Gomes (), Leonardo Pozza Santos, Edgar Ramos Vieira, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi, Elaine Tomasi, Flávio Fernando Demarco, Maria Cristina Gonzalez, Simone Farias-Antunez and Renata Moraes Bielemann
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Darlise Rodrigues dos Passos Gomes: Post-Graduate Program in Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
Leonardo Pozza Santos: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
Edgar Ramos Vieira: Department of Physical Therapy, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi: Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96020-220, RS, Brazil
Elaine Tomasi: Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96020-220, RS, Brazil
Flávio Fernando Demarco: Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96020-220, RS, Brazil
Maria Cristina Gonzalez: Post-Graduate Program in Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
Simone Farias-Antunez: Department of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Araranguá 88906-072, SC, Brazil
Renata Moraes Bielemann: Post-Graduate Program in Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: A few studies on physical performance (PP) decline among community-dwelling older adults have simultaneously evaluated various outcomes in Brazil. This longitudinal cohort study aimed to verify the association between PP and health outcomes (negative health self-perception—NHSP; consultations with health professionals; disability; falls; and hospitalization) in older Brazilians (N = 476, 68 ± 6.7 years). PP assessments included Gait Speed (GS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, and changes were evaluated over time (2014 to 2019–2020). The association between the PP and the outcomes was estimated using Poisson’s regression with robust variance. The physical tests were not associated with NSPH or with the number of consultations with health professionals. However, after adjustment (economic level, diet quality, physical activity, multimorbidity, depression, polypharmacy, and BMI), low PP at baseline (TUG and GS) was associated with disability at follow-up. A low TUG performance at baseline was also associated with subsequent falls (PR = 1.57, p = 0.007). A decline in GS was associated with hospitalization (PR = 1.86, p = 0.033). PP was associated with disability, falls, and hospitalization over a five- to six-year period in older Brazilians. Regular PP assessments should be conducted and low PP should be used as an indicator of the need for preventative measures to avoid poor health outcomes.

Keywords: aging; walk tests; longitudinal study; physical tests; morbidity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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