Differential determinants of physical daily activities in frail and nonfrail community-dwelling older adults

Background/Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not daily activities determined by average daily steps are associated with age, gender, body mass index, fear of falling, and physical functions (locomotive function, balance function, and muscle power) in community-dwelling nonfrail and frail older adults.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Based on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 629 elderly adults were divided into two groups: 515 were grouped to nonfrail elderly (TUG time less than 13.5 seconds, mean age 77.0 ± 7.2 years) and 114 to frail elderly (TUG time of 13.5 seconds or more, mean age 76.1 ± 7.5 years). Daily physical activities were determined by average daily steps measured by pedometer and four other physical function tests (10-m walk test, single-leg standing, functional reach, and five-chair stand test) were performed along with the assessment of fear of falling.

Results

Stepwise regression analysis revealed that age, gender, 10-m walk test, and single-leg standing were significant and independent determinants of the average step counts in the nonfrail elderly (R² = 0.282, p < 0.001), whereas fear of falling was the only significant and independent determinant of the average step counts in the frail elderly (R² = 0.119, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These results indicate that differential factors may be related to daily activities depending on the level of frailty in community-dwelling older adults.