Factors Associated with Gait Parameters in Older Adults Hospitalized for Falls: A Cross-Sectional Study

The global population is aging rapidly, with the proportion of those aged 65 and above projected to reach 16% by 2050. Gait disorders are common in older adults and can predict negative health outcomes, including falls. While aging and gait disorders are risk factors for falls, the effects of falls on gait parameters remain unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe spatiotemporal gait parameters and associated factors in older adults hospitalized after a fall.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gerontology of our University Hospital from January to April 2024. The collected data included sociodemographic data (age and sex), clinical data (height, weight, BMI, Mini-Mental State Examination score, serum albumin levels, rhabdomyolysis, long lie on the floor, and fall history), and functional data (Timed Up and Go test, Short Physical Performance Battery, Floor Transfer Test). The Physiolog 6S gait sensors from GaitUp were used to record gait parameters, which were analyzed by stratifying the aforementioned data.

Thirty patients were included (mean age 83.5 ± 5.1 years, 11 men and 19 women). Eight spatiotemporal gait parameters were analyzed: walking speed, cadence, stride length, right and left step length and height. Patients with rhabdomyolysis, lower serum albumin levels had significantly slower walking speeds (0.5 ± 0.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.2 m/s and Spearman's rho = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.62-0.9 p < .001). Patients with lower functional capacity had slower walking speeds (SPPB: 0.5 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1 m/s; TUG: 0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 0.7 ± 0.1 m/s; FTT: 0.5 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.0 m/s, p < .001).

This study emphasizes the connection between declining gait parameters, biological markers, and functional performance. More comprehensive prospective studies are necessary to investigate how biological markers, cognitive and functional abilities, fall history, and gait parameters are related in older adults for improved management.