Abstract
Objectives
Slow gait speed may be associated with premature mortality, cardiovascular disease
(CVD), and cancer, although a comprehensive meta-analysis is lacking. In this systematic
review and meta-analysis, we explored potential associations between gait speed and
mortality, incident CVD, and cancer.
Design
A systematic search in major databases was undertaken from inception until March 15,
2018 for prospective cohort studies reporting data on gait speed and mortality, incident
CVD, and cancer.
Setting and Participants
All available.
Measures
The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), based on the
model with the maximum number of covariates for each study between gait speed (categorized
as decrease in 0.1 m/s) and mortality, incident CVD, and cancer, were meta-analyzed
with a random effects model.
Results
Among 7026 articles, 44 articles corresponding to 48 independent cohorts were eligible.
The studies followed up on a total of 101,945 participants (mean age 72.2 years; 55%
women) for a median of 5.4 years. After adjusting for a median of 9 potential confounders
and the presence of publication bias, each reduction of 0.1 m/s in gait speed was
associated with a 12% increased risk of earlier mortality (45 studies; HR = 1.12,
95% CI: 1.09-1.14; I2 = 90%) and 8% increased risk of CVD (13 studies; HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.13; I2 = 81%), but no relationship with cancer was observed (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.97-1.04;
I2 = 15%).
Conclusion/implications
Slow gait speed may be a predictor of mortality and CVD in older adults. Because gait
speed is a quick and inexpensive measure to obtain, our study suggests that it should
be routinely used and may help identify people at risk of premature mortality and
CVD.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 25, 2018
Footnotes
E.C. been a consultant and/or advisor to or has received honoraria from Nutricia, Wunder, and Akern.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
