Walking ability and all-cause mortality in older women

In this study self-reported ability to walk 2 km and six-minute walking test (6MWT) performance were examined as predictors of all-cause mortality in 434 women, aged 63-76 years. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality (follow-up: 8 years). Predictors were self-reported difficulties in walking 2 km and 6-min walking distance tertiles of ≤495, 496-560 and ≥561 m, and no test result due to refusal by the physician to grant permission to perform the test or participant's inability or unwillingness to perform the test. During the follow-up, 39 participants died. Participants reporting minor (age- and body mass index-adjusted hazard ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.12-5.69) or major (7.93, 3.49-18.05) difficulties in walking 2 km had increased risk of death compared with those reporting no difficulties. Participants with no 6MWT result (6.99, 2.46-19.86) were at an increased risk of death when compared with participants who walked ≥561 m. A similar trend (2.47, 0.81-7.56) was found for participants with walking distance of ≤495 m during the 6MWT. The trends remained similar after adjustments for other confounders. In conclusion, self-reported difficulties in walking 2 km are associated with an increased risk of death in older community-dwelling women. Objectively measured walking ability gives similar results.