Citation

Asai T, Oshima K, Fukumoto Y, Yonezawa Y, Matsuo A, Misu S. Geriatr. Gerontol. Int. 2018; 18(8): 1189-1193.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Japan Geriatrics Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ggi.13439

PMID

29781168

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the associations between fall history and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (single-TUG test), TUG test while counting aloud backwards from 100 (dual-TUG test) and the dual-task cost (DTC) among independent community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 537 older adults who lived independently in the community. Data on fall history in the previous year were obtained by self-administrated questionnaire. The single- and dual-TUG tests were carried out, and the DTC value was computed from these results. Associations between fall history and these TUG-related values were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. The participants were divided into fall risk groups using the cut-off values of those significantly associated with falling, and the odds ratios (OR) were computed.

RESULTS: Slower single-TUG test scores and lower DTC values were significantly associated with fall history after adjusting for potential confounders (single-TUG test score: OR 1.133, 95% CI 1.029-1.249; DTC value: OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.968-0.998). Older adults with slower single-TUG test scores and lower DTC values reported a fall history more often than those in other categories (OR compared with the lower-risk single-TUG and lower-risk DTC groups: 3.474, 95% CI 1.881-6.570).

CONCLUSIONS: Slower single-TUG test scores and lower DTC values are associated with fall history among independent community-dwelling older adults. To some extent, dual task performance might provide added value for fall assessment, compared with administering the TUG test alone. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; ••: ••-••.

© 2018 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Language: en

Keywords

Timed Up and Go test; assessment; community-dwelling older adults; dual tasking; fall