title: Predicting 3-year incident mobility disability in middle-aged and older adults using physical performance tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify a standard physical performance test, which can predict 3-year incident mobility disability independent of demographics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based middle-aged and older adult cohort assessment performed at a local geriatric clinical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-living middle-aged and older persons (age, 50-85y) without baseline mobility disability (N=622).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mobility disability was ascertained at baseline and at 3-year follow-up using an established self-report method: self-reported inability to walk a quarter mile without resting or inability to walk up a flight of stairs unsupported. Physical performance tests included self-selected usual gait speed, time required to complete 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS), and 400-m brisk walking. Demographic variables age, sex, height, and weight were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 13.5% participants reported 3-year incident mobility disability. Usual gait speed <1.2m/s, requiring >13.6 seconds to complete 5TSTS, and completing 400m at <1.19m/s walking speed were highly predictive of future mobility disability independent of demographics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inability to complete 5TSTS in <13.7 seconds can be a clinically convenient guideline for monitoring and for further assessment of middle-aged and older persons, in order to prevent or delay future mobility disability.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. nandinijd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: E Jeffrey
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Metter
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D057566:Self Report; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking