Table 1.
Participant Characteristics According to Timed Gait at Baseline
| Characteristics | Slow timed gait (n = 322) | Normal timed gait (n = 432) | p Value |
| SRHa | |||
| Excellent/Very Good/Good | 184 (57.1) | 359 (83.1) | <.001 |
| Fair/Poor | 138 (42.9) | 73 (16.9) | |
| Demographics | |||
| Age (years) | 80.4 ± 5.4 | 77.0 ± 4.7 | <.001 |
| Female | 227 (70.5) | 260 (60.2) | .003 |
| White race | 283 (87.9) | 399 (92.4) | .04 |
| Education (years) | 11.6 ± 2.9 | 12.8 ± 2.8 | <.001 |
| Living alone | 150 (46.6) | 148 (34.3) | <.001 |
| Biomedical | |||
| Number of chronic conditionsb | 2.2 ± 1.3 | 1.6 ± 1.1 | <.001 |
| MMSE scorec | 26.3 ± 2.6 | 27.1 ± 2.3 | <.001 |
| Psychosocial | |||
| Depressive symptomsd | 95 (29.5) | 61 (14.1) | <.001 |
| Self-efficacye | 25.1 ± 7.1 | 34.0 ± 5.6 | <.001 |
| Social supportf | 21.9 ± 5.7 | 22.7 ± 5.3 | .05 |
| Social activityg | 7.2 ± 3.2 | 9.5 ± 2.9 | <.001 |
| ADLs | |||
| ADL scoreh | 20.6 ± 3.3 | 23.1 ± 1.7 | <.001 |
Notes: p Values were determined using SAS statistical software, version 9.1. Data are given as M ± SD unless otherwise indicated. Data are given as n (%) of participants. SRH = self-rated health; ADLs = activities of daily living; MMSE = Mini-Mental State Examination.
Mean timed gait at baseline for those with Fair/Poor SRH was 13.03 ± 7.14 s compared with 9.81 ± 5.73 among those with Excellent/Very Good/Good SRH (p < .001).
Number of chronic conditions was ascertained based on the presence of nine self-reported, physician-diagnosed chronic conditions, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, hip fracture, chronic lung disease, and cancer (other than minor skin cancer).
Cognitive status was assessed by the Folstein MMSE, with lower scores indicating worse cognitive status (range 0–30).
Depressive symptoms were determined by the 11-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, with a score of 16 and more indicating clinically significant depression.
Self-efficacy was determined by a modified version of the Falls Efficacy Scale, with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy (range 0–40).
Social support was determined by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy (range 0–28).
Social activity levels were determined by the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies in the Elderly Social Activity Instrument, with higher scores indicating higher social support (range 0–20).
Participants were asked if they needed help from another person to perform the following 12 ADLs: bathing, dressing, transferring, walking around house or apartment, eating, grooming, toileting, shopping, housework, meal preparation, taking medications, and paying bills. Responses were scored as 0 (needs help/unable to do), 1 (no help needed but difficulty), or 2 (no help needed, no difficulty), with an overall ADL scale ranging from 0 to 24.