Abstract
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is an objective tool for evaluating three domains (balance, repeated chair stands, and gait speed) of lower extremity physical function in older age. It is unclear how the associations between SPPB scores and health outcomes persist over time. The aim of this 14-year cohort study was to investigate associations between SPPB scores and health outcomes among participants aged 60+ years in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The exposures were SPPB scores (total and domain-specific) at baseline (Wave 2). The outcomes were mobility impairments, difficulties in performing basic activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and falls, measured at seven subsequent timepoints (Waves 3 to 9). The analyses involved linear and logistic multilevel regressions. After adjusting for potential confounders, a one-point increase in the total SPPB score was associated with a 0.13 (95% CI: −0.16, −0.10) decrease in mobility impairment, a 0.06 (−0.08, −0.05) decrease in ADL disabilities, a 0.06 (−0.07, −0.04) decrease in IADL disabilities, and 8% (0.90, 0.95) lower odds of falling (averaged across all follow-ups). Associations between the SPPB domains and health outcomes were more varied. The SPPB may be a useful measure for identifying older adults at a high risk of adverse outcomes.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 16319 |
Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 by the authors.
Funding
ELSA is funded by the National Institute on Aging (R01AG017644), and by UK Government Departments coordinated by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). This research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, grant number ES/P000630/1.
Funders | Funder number |
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National Institute on Aging | R01AG017644 |
Economic and Social Research Council | ES/P000630/1 |
National Institute for Health and Care Research |
Keywords
- ELSA
- SPPB
- ageing
- disability
- falls
- health
- mobility
- older adults
- physical function
- physical performance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pollution
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis