[The "Short Physical Performance Battery" in the Czech Republic -  the pilot and validation study in older persons]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Population aging leads to increased physical decline and functional deficits in seniors.
• Early identification of prefrail individuals is crucial for effective interventions.
• The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a key tool for assessing physical performance and frailty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the SPPB assessment into clinical practice in the Czech Republic.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the SPPB in a Czech older adult population.
• To assess the correlation of SPPB scores with other health indicators.

Main Methods:

• The original English SPPB was translated into Czech and back-translated for accuracy.
• SPPB was administered to a sample of older adults in the Czech Republic.
• Psychometric properties were evaluated, and SPPB scores were correlated with cognition (MMSE), self-care (ADL), and nutritional status (MNA-SF).

Main Results:

• Out of 145 participants (mean age 80.38), 61.4% were frail (SPPB ≤ 6), 14.5% prefrail (SPPB 7-9), and 24.1% had good physical performance (SPPB 10-12).
• Significant correlations were found between SPPB scores and nutritional status (ρ=0.51), ADL (ρ=0.53), and cognitive performance (ρ=0.38).
• The SPPB demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.821).

Conclusions:

• The SPPB is a reliable and valid tool for assessing physical performance and frailty in older adults.
• Significant correlations with nutritional status, ADL, and cognitive function support its clinical utility.
• The SPPB is recommended for clinical practice to identify at-risk individuals who could benefit from targeted interventions.