Normative data and determinants for the timed "up and go" test in a population-based sample of elderly individuals...

To define the standard performance of elderly people without gait disturbances in the "Timed Up and Go" test (TUG) and investigate its determinants.

A population-based sample of 527 community-dwelling subjects, 71 to 99 years of age, was studied using a clinical, neurological, and cognitive standardized protocol which included the TUG (time to get up, walk 3 meters, go back and sit down again).

Sixty one subjects were unable to perform the TUG and 158 were excluded because of abnormal gait. 308 subjects without gait disturbances performed the TUG (mean age 77.5 +/- 5.2 years); males 171, (55%) in 10.2 +/- 3.1 seconds (range 5-25). The TUG time was higher in females (11.2 +/- 3.2 seconds; males: 9.3 +/- 2.8), was positively correlated with age (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). Mean TUG times by age group were: 71-75 years: 9.5 +/- 2.5 sec.; 76-80 years: 9.9 +/- 3 sec.; 81-85 years: 11.2 +/- 3.6 sec; and 86-99 years: 12 +/- 3.8 seconds). TUG times were also related to cognitive impairment (Global Deterioration Scale, r = 0.27, p < 0.001), weight (r = -0.18, p < 0.001), height (r = -0.29, p <0.001), head circumference (r = -0.24, p < 0.001) and nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, r = -0.31, p < 0.001). A regression model explaining 25.8% of TUG variance included age, gender, weight, nutritional status and cognitive impairment as independent determinants of TUG scores.

The TUG performance of elderly people over 70 without apparent gait disturbances depends on age and other non motor variables such as female gender, weight, nutritional status and cognitive impairment.