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. 2020 Jan 20;35(3):e25.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e25.

Association between Timed Up and Go Test and Subsequent Functional Dependency

Ji Eun Lee  1 , Hyejin Chun  1 , Young Sang Kim  1 , Hee Won Jung  2 , Il Young Jang  3 , Hyun Min Cha  4 , Ki Young Son  5 , Belong Cho  6 , In Soon Kwon  7 , Jong Lull Yoon  8
Affiliations

Association between Timed Up and Go Test and Subsequent Functional Dependency

Ji Eun Lee et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between baseline results of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and subsequent functional dependency occurrence.

Methods: From the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort database, we identified 39,519 people who participated in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages at the age of 66 during 2007-2008. Impaired mobility was defined as taking 10 seconds or longer to perform the TUG test. Functional dependency occurrence was defined as the initiation of receiving national Long-Term Care Insurance services-home care or admission to long-term care facilities. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) for dependency occurrence according to baseline TUG test results.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 5.7 years. Occurrence rates of dependency were 2.0 and 3.4 cases per 1,000 person-years in the normal and impaired TUG groups, respectively. Impaired mobility was associated with a higher risk of functional dependency occurrence (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-1.95; P < 0.001). Additionally, in the subgroup analysis for the participants with intact baseline activities of daily living, impaired mobility was associated with a higher risk of dependency occurrence (aHR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.33-2.04; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The TUG test might be a useful predictive marker of subsequent functional dependency occurrence. Intervention to prevent functional dependency may be helpful for older adults with impairment on the TUG test.

Keywords: Community-Based Long-Term Care; Frailty; Gait; Geriatric Assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

In Soon Kwon, one of the co-authors of this study, bore the study expenses. However, this donation did not influence research and publication integrity. The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Study design.
TUG test = Timed Up and Go test. aInitial population: People who participated in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages during 2007–2008 were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort database.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Functional dependency occurrence according to baseline TUG results.
TUG test = Timed Up and Go test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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