title: Characteristics of nondisabled older persons who perform poorly in objective tests of lower extremity function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that nondisabled older persons with poor performance of lower extremity function are ideal targets for interventions of disability prevention. However, health-related factors associated with poor performance are largely unknown. Using data from a representative sample of nondisabled older persons, this study identifies the diseases and biological markers that characterize this group of the population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3,381 persons aged 71 or older, interviewed and administered a battery of physical performance tests at the sixth annual follow-up of the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE), who reported no need for help in walking 1/4 mile or climbing stairs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lower extremity performance was measured using a short battery of tests including assessment of standing balance, a timed 2.4-m walk, and timed test of rising 5 times from a chair. Chronic conditions were ascertained as self-report of a physician diagnosis. Data on previous hospitalizations were obtained from the Medicare database. Nonfasting blood samples were obtained and processed with standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multivariate analysis, older age, female gender, higher BMI, history of hip fracture and diabetes, one or more hospital admissions for acute infection in the last 3 years, lower levels of hemoglobin and albumin, and higher leukocytes and gamma-glutamyl transferase were all associated independently with poor performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for older patients who are not disabled but have poor lower extremity performance selects a subgroup of the population with a high percentage of women, high prevalence of diabetes and hip fracture, and high levels of biological markers of inflammation. This group represents about 10% of the US population 70 to 90 years old. These findings should be considered in planning specifically tailored interventions for disability prevention in this subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, I Fraticini, National Research Institute INRCA, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Penninx
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Leveille
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Havlik
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D001900:Boston; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003237:Connecticut; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016138:Walking; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase