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Evaluation of two fatigability severity measures in elderly adults
John F Schnelle1, Maciej S Buchowski, Talat A Ikizler
1Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Quality Aging, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 7, 2012
Summary
Two new fatigability severity measures are stable, valid, and correlate with physical activity, frailty, and gait speed in older adults. These reproducible scores can aid in assessing older adults at risk of functional decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Fatigability is a key factor in functional decline among older adults.
- Standardized measures for assessing fatigability severity are needed.
- The American Geriatrics Society recommends specific approaches to quantify fatigability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the stability and concurrent validity of two novel fatigability severity measures.
- To examine the clinical correlates of these fatigability measures in older adults.
- To establish the utility of these measures for intervention studies.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 43 participants (average age 85).
- Perceived and performance fatigability severity were quantified using a standardized 10-minute walk test.
- Stability was assessed via repeat testing within two weeks; validity was examined against physical activity, frailty, and gait speed measures.
Main Results:
- Both perceived and performance fatigability measures demonstrated high correlation (r=0.94) and stability (r=0.82-0.85).
- Fatigability scores significantly correlated with physical activity levels (r=-0.42 to -0.44), frailty (r=0.47-0.53), and gait speed (r=-0.45 to -0.54).
- All correlations were statistically significant (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- The developed methodology allows for calculation of reproducible and highly correlated fatigability severity scores.
- These scores effectively summarize the relationship between perceived/performance changes and physical activity.
- The brief assessment (<15 minutes) is suitable for identifying older adults at risk and evaluating interventions to increase physical activity.
