Associations between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Timed Up and Go Test for Elderly Participants in Public Physical...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Cardiovascular risks are often assessed using anthropometric measures like body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).
• The Timed Up and Go (TTUG) test is a key indicator of mobility and fall risk, particularly in elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between anthropometric indicators of cardiovascular risk (BMI, WC, WHtR) and TTUG test performance.
• To assess the impact of abdominal obesity markers on mobility in physically active elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with active elderly participants in a public physical exercise program.
• Exclusion criteria included severe mobility issues, neurological sequelae, or balance deficits.
• Data collected included anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC, WHtR) and TTUG test results.

Main Results:

• A sample of 55 elderly individuals (average age 68) revealed weak correlations between TTUG performance and BMI (r=0.111, p=0.426) and WC.
• High correlations were observed between WC and WHtR (r=0.885, p<0.000).
• These findings suggest that factors beyond BMI and abdominal fat, such as strength and balance from physical activity, influence TTUG performance.

Conclusions:

• Despite elevated anthropometric measurements in many participants, no negative influence on TTUG performance was detected.
• Regular physical activity may preserve or enhance mobility in elderly individuals, irrespective of higher BMI or WC.
• Further research with larger, more balanced samples is recommended to confirm these findings.