title: A Comparison of Objective Physical Performance Tests and Future Mortality in the Elderly People.
abstract: Physical performance is an important predictor of mortality, but little is known on the comparative prognostic utility of different objective physical performance tests in community-dwelling older adults. We compared the prognostic usefulness of several objective physical performance tests on mortality, adjusting our analyses for potential confounders.
  
  
  
  Among 3,099 older community-dwelling participants included in the Progetto Veneto Anziani study, 2,096 were followed for a mean of 4.4 years. Physical performance tests measured were Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 4-meter gait speed, chair stands time, leg extension and flexion, handgrip strength, and 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), treated as continuous variables and categorized in gender-specific quartiles. The main outcome was mortality assessed with death certificates.
  
  
  
  Participants who died during the follow-up (n = 327) scored significantly worse in all physical performance tests measured at baseline than those who survived (n = 1,769). Using a Harrell's C-index, the highest C-index was observed for 6MWT in men (C-index = 0.735; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.701-0.770, p < .0001) and SPPB in women (C-index = 0.781; 95% CI: 0.740-0.822, p = .0009). However, in both genders, only SPPB, 4-meter walking speed, and 6MWT are significant predictors of mortality. Analyses using sex-specific quartiles substantially confirmed these findings.
  
  
  
  Slow gait speed, 6MWT, and SPPB are significant predictors for mortality in community-dwelling older men and women. Physicians should consider using these tests to identify elderly individuals who are at higher risk of death to improve clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Brendon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Brescia University, Italy.|Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.|CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolzetta
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina De
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-DIMED, ClinicaMedica I, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-DIMED, ClinicaMedica I, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musacchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.|National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perissinotto
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Care Planning and Evaluation of the Regione Veneto, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.|National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manzato
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Mortality; Physical activity; Physical performance