[Measurement of physical capacities in the elderly: a secondary analysis of the Quebec longitudinal study NuAge].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity of a battery of functional capacity tests in community-living elderly Canadians.


METHODS



METHODS
cross-sectional study.


METHODS
baseline data from 1793 men and women aged 74.4 +/- 4.1 participating in the NuAge longitudinal study were collected from December 2003 to April 2005 and used for the analyses. A global score measuring functional capacities (BFC) was constructed as the sum of four tests according to a method proposed by Guralnik [Timed Up and Go, walking speed (4 m), chair stands (five times), standing balance]. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to study the relationship between age, sex, and physical activity, and BFC score.


RESULTS
The global functional capacities score had an internal consistency of 0.74. It was significantly associated with age, sex and measures of mental and physical health status including: cognitive function (< 0.001), depressive symptoms (< 0.001), nutritional risk (< 0.001), burden of disease (< 0.001), and level of physical activity (< 0.001) thus supporting the construct validity of the global score. Age related differences in BFC were consistent and similar among men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
The global score of functional capacity tests provided a valid assessment of physical capacities in the community-living elderly. While men had higher global BFC scores than women, among both sexes the best performance was observed in the youngest age group and in those reporting more physical activity.
Avila-Funes
José Alberto
JA
Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement, Institut universitaire de g6riatrie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canadá.
Gray-Donald
Katherine
K
Payette
Hélène
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011792:Quebec; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking