Article

Gait is increasingly considered an important indicator of health.
Yet, little is known on the relation of gait with established health indicators,
e.g. daily functioning. Although gait differs by sex, it is unknown whether
different gait domains provide different health indicators in men or women. We
investigated how gait associates with basic and instrumental activities of daily
living (BADL and IADL) in community-dwelling persons. METHODS: In 2500
participants of the population-based Rotterdam Study (aged >/= 50 yrs), gait was
assessed by electronic walkway and summarized into seven independent gait
domains: Pace, Rhythm, Phases, Tandem, Turning, Variability, Base of Support,
which were averaged into Global Gait. We assessed BADL with the disability index
of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire and IADL with the Instrumental
Activities of Daily Living scale. BADL and IADL were analyzed as continuous
scores, and dichotomised: with impairment defined as moderate to very severe
disability. RESULTS: In men, Global Gait, Pace, and Rhythm associated with BADL
in linear analyses. In contrast, all domains except Base of Support associated
with BADL or IADL in women. Associations of Global Gait and Phases with BADL were
significantly stronger in women (p-interaction < 0.05). Similarly, associations
of Global Gait, Rhythm, and Phases with IADL were stronger in women
(p-interaction < 0.05). For dichotomised analyses, higher Global Gait, Pace, and
Rhythm associated with less BADL-impairment in men, while Global Gait associated
with less BADL and IADL-impairment in women. CONCLUSIONS: In men, Pace and Rhythm
may suffice as health indicators, while women may require comprehensive gait
assessment to better estimate their health status.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS