Spatiotemporal gait characteristics and risk of mortality in community-dwelling older adults

Gait is one of the best measures of physical function in older adults. The study examined the association between spatiotemporal gait variables and mortality among older adults. The participants were 4,298 older adults in the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology - Study of Geriatric Syndromes. At baseline we measured the following spatiotemporal gait variables: gait speed, stride length, cadence, and stride length variability. Demographic variables, medical conditions, cognitive function, and physical inactivity were also assessed at baseline. We obtained gait measurements over five trials using an electronic gait-measuring device mounted at the middle 2.4 m section of a 6.4 m straight and flat pathway, with 2 m allowed for acceleration and deceleration. Participants' usual gait speed was measured. Subsequent incident death was confirmed using administrative data. During follow-up (mean duration: 1,571 days), there were 185 incident deaths among participants. Low function on all gait variables increased risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], gait speed: 1.83 [1.31-2.56], stride length: 1.85 [1.31-2.62], cadence: 1.60 [1.17-2.18], stride length variability: 1.50 [1.09-2.06]). In addition, mortality risk increased with the number of variables showing low gait function compared with normal gait function (p < .05). Slower gait speed, shorter stride length, lower cadence, and higher stride length variability were associated with increased mortality. Multifaceted gait analysis could be useful for evaluating mortality risk.