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. 2014 Sep;29(9):1263-9.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-014-2926-6. Epub 2014 Jun 17.

Walking cadence and mortality among community-dwelling older adults

Justin C Brown  1 , Michael O Harhay, Meera N Harhay
Affiliations

Walking cadence and mortality among community-dwelling older adults

Justin C Brown et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Older adults are encouraged to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) for moderate-intensity physical activity (i.e., brisk walking). It is unknown if the ability to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) predicts mortality.

Objective: To determine if the ability to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) predicts mortality among older adults.

Design, setting, and patients: A population-based cohort study among 5,000 older adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III; 1988-1994). Vital status and cause of death were collected through December 31, 2006. Median follow-up was 13.4 years. Average participant age was 70.6 years.

Measurements: Walking cadence (steps∙minute(-1)) was calculated using a timed 2.4-m walk. Walking cadence was dichotomized at 100 steps∙minute(-1) (≥100 steps∙minute(-1) versus <100 steps∙minute(-1)) to demarcate the lower threshold of absolutely defined moderate-intensity physical activity. Walking cadence was also analyzed as a continuous variable. Predicted survival was compared between walking cadence and gait speed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular-specific and cancer-specific mortality and mortality from other causes.

Results: Among 5,000 participants, 3,039 (61 %) walked ≥100 steps∙minute(-1). During follow-up, 3,171 subjects died. In multivariable-adjusted analysis, ability to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) predicted a 21 % reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI], 0.71-0.89, p < 0.001). Each ten-step increase in walking cadence predicted a 4 % reduction in all-cause mortality (HR, 0.96, [0.94-0.98], p < 0.001). In secondary analyses, ability to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) predicted reductions in cardiovascular-specific mortality (HR, 0.79 [0.67-0.92], p = 0.002), cancer-specific mortality (HR, 0.76 [0.58-0.99], p = 0.050), and mortality from other causes (HR, 0.82 [0.68-0.97], p = 0.025). Predicted survival, adjusted for age and sex, was not different using walking cadence versus gait speed.

Limitations: Walking cadence was a cross-sectional measurement.

Conclusions: The ability to walk ≥100 steps∙minute(-1) predicts a reduction in mortality among a sample of community-dwelling older adults.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Kaplan-Meier curve of all-cause mortality by walking cadence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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