Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics of Participants, Stratified by Self-reported Walking Speed
| Slow Walkers (n = 465) | Medium Walkers (n = 816) | Fast Walkers (n = 281) | p Value | |
| Mean ± SD or N (%) | ||||
| Age (y) | 72 ± 8 | 70 ± 6 | 69 ± 6 | <.001 |
| Women | 298 (64) | 445 (55) | 170 (61) | .008 |
| Education (y) | 6.8 ± 5.1 | 7.3 ± 5.4 | 9.1 ± 5.4 | <.001 |
| No health insurance | 33 (7) | 86 (11) | 26 (9) | .13 |
| Depressive symptoms (CES-D) | 13.0 ± 12.0 | 9.1 ± 9.8 | 7.6 ± 9.2 | <.001 |
| Cognitive function (3MSE) | 84 ± 12 | 86 ± 11 | 89 ± 10 | <.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 140 ± 21 | 139 ± 19 | 136 ± 18 | .02 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 75 ± 11 | 76 ± 11 | 77 ± 9 | .02 |
| Body mass index (kg weight/m2) | 30.5 ± 6.8 | 29.9 ± 5.5 | 28.4 ± 5.5 | <.001 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 210 ± 40 | 213 ± 39 | 215 ± 39 | .20 |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 119 ± 51 | 114 ± 45 | 109 ± 39 | .01 |
| Serum creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.93 ± 0.64 | 0.88 ± 0.55 | 0.83 ± 0.32 | .04 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 7.5 ± 10.4 | 5.4 ± 7.6 | 4.3 ± 7.6 | <.001 |
| Interleukin-6 (pg/mL) | 6.4 ± 10.2 | 4.9 ± 5.1 | 4.1 ± 4.0 | <.001 |
| History of arthritis* | 259 (56) | 371 (46) | 122 (43) | <.001 |
| History of cardiovascular event† | 116 (25) | 116 (14) | 24 (9) | <.001 |
| History of cancer | 53 (11) | 58 (7) | 23 (8) | .03 |
| History of hospitalization | 383 (83) | 562 (69) | 194 (69) | <.001 |
| Diabetes medication use | 141 (30) | 163 (20) | 38 (14) | <.001 |
| Antihypertensive use | 259 (56) | 357 (44) | 102 (36) | <.001 |
Notes: CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression; 3MSE = Modified Mini Mental State exam.
*
In hands, shoulders, hips, or knees.
†
Stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure.