Reduced gait speed in hospitalized older adults: associated sociodemographic and mobility characteristics

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the predominance of reduced gait speed in hospitalized older people and to verify the association with demographic and mobility factors. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with older adults from a teaching hospital in Paraná (2020–2021) (n=662). Sociodemographic and health questionnaires were applied, as well as the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index (CFVI-20). The Chi-square test was employed. Most participants were men (51.8%), aged from 60 to 69 years (49.2%), married (47.9%), retired or pensioners (69.5%), and with low education level (31.3%). Reduced gait speed was present in 37.61% of the older adults and associated with: age <70 years (p=0.003); non-exercise of work activity (p=0.045); inability to raise arms above shoulders (p=0.05) and handle and hold small objects (p=0.011); and having stopped using the mobile phone (p<0.001) and bathing alone (p=0.001) due to health. It is concluded that the predominance of older people with reduced gait speed was high, associated with the demographic characteristics of advanced age and non-exercise of labor activity. Regarding mobility factors, all the older adults showed an association with reduced gait speed.