Free-Living Gait Cadence Measured by Wearable Accelerometers for Assessing Fall Risk. (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roth, David; Karas, Marta; Wanigatunga, Amal; Juraschek, Stephen; Appel, Lawrence; Schrack, Jennifer; Urbanek, Jacek
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.1301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Accelerometers are widespread in research applications, yet whether they are superior to structured clinic-based assessments is unknown. Using negative binomial regression, we compared traditional in-clinic measures of mobility (6-minute gait cadence, speed, and distance, and 4-meter gait speed) with free-living gait cadence from wrist accelerometers (Actigraph GT9X) in predicting fall rates in 432 older adults (age 77.29±5.46 yrs, 59.1% men, 80.2% White) participating in the Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You (STURDY). Accelerometry-based gait cadence was estimated with the Adaptive Empirical Pattern Transformation algorithm. Across all participants, every 10 steps/min higher cadence was associated with a 13.2% lower fall rate (p=0.036). Mobility measures were not related to falls (p>0.05). Among higher-functioning participants (cadence ≥100 steps/min), every 10 steps/min higher free-living cadence (p=0.01) was associated with a 27.7% lower fall rate. Data collected from accelerometers may provide a more sensitive indicator of fall risk than in-clinic tests.