title: Validity and reliability of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB): a pilot study on mobility in the Colombian Andes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the validity (convergent and construct) and reliability of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) among non-disabled adults between 65 to 74 years of age residing in the Andes Mountains of Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Design Validation study;
  
  
  METHODS
  150 subjects aged 65 to 74 years recruited from elderly associations (day-centers) in Manizales, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SPPB tests of balance, including time to walk 4 meters and time required to stand from a chair 5 times were administered to all participants. Reliability was analyzed with a 7-day interval between assessments and use of repeated ANOVA testing. Construct validity was assessed using factor analysis and by testing the relationship between SPPB and depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and self rated health (SRH), while the concurrent validity was measured through relationships with mobility limitations and disability in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). ANOVA tests were used to establish these associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test-retest reliability of the SPPB was high: 0.87 (CI95%: 0.77-0.96). A one factor solution was found with three SPPB tests. SPPB was related to self-rated health, limitations in walking and climbing steps and to indicators of disability, as well as to cognitive function and depression. There was a graded decrease in the mean SPPB score with increasing disability and poor health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Spanish version of SPPB is reliable and valid to assess physical performance among older adults from our region. Future studies should establish their clinical applications and explore usage in population studies.
authors.affiliation: Research group in Gerontology and Geriatrics. University of Caldas. Manizales, Colombia.
authors.forename: José Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Research group in Gerontology and Geriatrics. University of Caldas. Manizales, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carmen-Lucía
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Centre (CRCHUM) Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: María Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Zunzunegui
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guralnik
keywords: Colombia; SPPB; aging; disability; reliability; validation studies; validity