Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between 5-m walking time and the need for long-term care among community-dwelling adults aged above 75 years.
Methods: A total of 190 older individuals living aged ≥ 75 years (mean age, 80.1 [SD 4.2] years) and living at home participated in this study. Inpatients and current recipients of long-term care were excluded. In the baseline survey, participants performed the 5-m walking test and were followed-up for 39 months.
Results: During the 39-month follow-up, 34 participants (17.9%) were certified for long-term care need. The log-rank test of survival curves indicated that the number of subjects certified for long-term care during the follow-up period was significantly higher in the slower walking speed group than in the faster walking speed group (p < 0.001). Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that the 5-m walking speed and body mass index were significantly associated with the need for long-term care during the 39 months follow-up period, and the hazard ratio of 5-m walking speed was 1.65 (p < 0.01).
Discussion and Conclusion: These results suggested that the slow usual walking speed could relate to the future need for long-term care in community-dwelling older adults.
