TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional mobility and its contributing factors for older adults in different cities in Taiwan
AU - Lin, Sang I.
AU - Lee, Hsuei Chen
AU - Chang, Ku Chou
AU - Yang, Yi Ching
AU - Tsauo, Jau Yih
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - Background/purpose Impaired mobility is one of the primary causes of declined functional capacity in old age. The timed up-and-go test (TUG), a common mobility test, has been studied extensively in Western countries. The purposes of this study were to compare and identify factors associated with TUG performance in older adults with impaired mobility and living in different cities in Taiwan. Methods Older adults living in Taipei, Tainan, and Niaosong cities were screened for mobility impairments and then recruited. A series of questionnaires and physical and functional tests were used to obtain information and measurements for potential contributing factors and TUG. Regression analysis was conducted to determine factors contributing to TUG. Results A total of 413 older adults participated in the study. The mean TUG was 14.3 seconds for participants across the three cities, and was significantly shorter in Tainan. Age, number of medications, fear of falling, depression, high intensity activity time, reaction time, single leg stance time, and functional reach distance were found to have significant contribution. These factors accounted for approximately half of the variance in TUG. The regression equations were not equal for the different cities, with depression being the only common determinant. Conclusion Taiwanese older adults with mobility problems living in different cities performed differently in TUG and the contributing factors were also different. These findings indicate a need of further studies examining older adults in different environments.
AB - Background/purpose Impaired mobility is one of the primary causes of declined functional capacity in old age. The timed up-and-go test (TUG), a common mobility test, has been studied extensively in Western countries. The purposes of this study were to compare and identify factors associated with TUG performance in older adults with impaired mobility and living in different cities in Taiwan. Methods Older adults living in Taipei, Tainan, and Niaosong cities were screened for mobility impairments and then recruited. A series of questionnaires and physical and functional tests were used to obtain information and measurements for potential contributing factors and TUG. Regression analysis was conducted to determine factors contributing to TUG. Results A total of 413 older adults participated in the study. The mean TUG was 14.3 seconds for participants across the three cities, and was significantly shorter in Tainan. Age, number of medications, fear of falling, depression, high intensity activity time, reaction time, single leg stance time, and functional reach distance were found to have significant contribution. These factors accounted for approximately half of the variance in TUG. The regression equations were not equal for the different cities, with depression being the only common determinant. Conclusion Taiwanese older adults with mobility problems living in different cities performed differently in TUG and the contributing factors were also different. These findings indicate a need of further studies examining older adults in different environments.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84975757428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84975757428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jfma.2016.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jfma.2016.01.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 27142082
AN - SCOPUS:84975757428
SN - 0929-6646
VL - 116
SP - 72
EP - 79
JO - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
JF - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
IS - 2
ER -