Age-Based Functional Outcomes In Geriatric Hispanic Women

Aging is characterized by an increase in adiposity and steadfast decline in functional gait and muscular strength. Hispanic women are known to have a greater risk factor for increased adiposity, but the age where a decline in gait and muscular strength occurs warrants more investigation. PURPOSE: To determine how adiposity, gait, and muscular strength changes in Hispanic women based on their age group. METHODS: A total of 64 women participated in the study. Participants were clustered based on age into 60 to 69 years (n = 39, age = 65.43 ± 2.50 years) and 70 to 79 years (n = 25, age = 73.32 ± 2.69 years). A 4-compartment model (body volume, total body water, bone mineral content, body mass) was utilized to determine fat-free mass and body fat percentage. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was calculated by dividing the waist by the hip circumference. Functional tests included 4-meter fast walk (4 MW), stand-walk-sit (TUG), 30 second body weight squats (SQ), and forearm strength (FAS). Independent sample t-test was utilized to examine group differences, while Pearson correlation was utilized to examine the relationship between body composition and functional outcomes, with a statistical significance set at p < 0.05 and Cohen’s d reported as effect size. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between age groups in the 4 MW [t(62) = -2.905, p = 0.005, d = 1.08], TUG [t(62) = -3.425, p = 0.001, d = 2.22], SQ [t(56.5) = -3.273, p = 0.002, d = 3.85], and WHR [t(62) = -2.211, p = 0.031, d = 0.06]. For the 60 to 69 years old group, the 4 MW (r = -0.366, p = 0.022) and TUG (r = -0.528, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with their speed of completion and their FAS, while there was a positive relationship between FAS and total SQ (r = 0.318, p = 0.049) performed. CONCLUSION: Overall gait and muscular strength have a linear change between the ages of 60 to 69 years old in Hispanic women. Between 70-79 years old, there was no clear indication how gait and muscular strength changed, denoting the multifactorial component of these metrics. It is imperative to promote mobility and muscular strength to prevent the decline in overall gait among Hispanic women. Supported by: Texas A&M International University Research Grant