Walking pace and cognitive impairment in elderly: finding from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017

Authors

  • Yeny Concha- Cisternas Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.38.3.155.67

Keywords:

walking pace, gait, cognitive impairment, elderly, physical activity

Abstract

Background: Walking pace could be considered an early risk marker of cognitive impairment in older people.
Objective: To determine the association between walking pace and cognitive impairment in older Chilean adults. Methods: 1,788 adults older than 60 years from the 2016-2017 Chilean National Health Survey with data available in the exposure and outcome were included in this cross-sectional study. Walking pace was self-reported and categorised as slow, average and brisk. Cognitive
impairment was assessed using the Abbreviated Mini-Mentalnquestionnaire. Logistic
regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between walking pace and cognitive impairment, logistic regression analyses – adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related covariates. Results: In the minimally adjusted model and compared to older adults who self-reported a brisk walking pace, those in the slow walking pace category were 2.67 times more likely to have cognitive impairment (OR: 2.67 [95% CI: 1.62, 4.42]). When the analyses were adjusted, the association was attenuated but remained significant (OR: 1.78 [95% CI: 1.15 3.17]).
No associations were found between average pace walkers and cognitive impairment. Conclusion: Older adults who self-reported a slow walking pace having a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment than their counterparts who had a brisk walking pace. Considering that cognitive impairment is a geriatric syndrome with a high prevalence in the elderly, there
is a need to emphasise strategies for an early diagnosis. Therefore, walking pace may be a useful marker to identify individuals at high risk of cognitive impairment.

Author Biography

Yeny Concha- Cisternas, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

Kinesióloga. Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás,
Talca (Chile). https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7013-3894

Published

2022-12-01

How to Cite

Concha- Cisternas, Y. (2022). Walking pace and cognitive impairment in elderly: finding from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017. Salud Uninorte, 38(3), 819–836. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.38.3.155.67

Issue

Section

Original Article

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