Slow gait speed is associated with frailty in older adults from nursing homes

Age-related frailty is a condition of diminished physiological reserves that increases the risk of falls, disability, hospitalisation and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine whether a frail phenotype can be identified by gait speed. 94 older residents (83.6 ± 7.9 years, 68% women) from Slovenian nursing homes were included as study participants in this cross-sectional study. Frailty was assessed using Fried's Frailty Phenotype Protocol and gait speed was measured over a distance of 4.5 m. We used relative risk to determine whether gait speed was an indicator of frailty. Most of the residents were pre-frail (63%) or frail (16%). In the frail group, a significantly lower walking speed of - 0.21 m/s was found (U = 331.5; p < 0.001) and a gait speed ≤ 0.457 m/s increased the risk of frailty by 40% (RR=1.40 (CI 1.15-1.70); p=0.0008). We suggest using gait speed as a simple indicator of potential frailty in nursing homes. People at risk should be addressed to appropriate interventions. In particular, physical activity seems to prevent the occurrence of frailty.