Association between Timed Up and Go Test and Subsequent Functional Dependency

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science 2020, 35(3), , pp.1-11
• Main Authors: Lee, Ji Eun, Chun, Hyejin, Kim, Young Sang, Jung, Hee Won, Jang, Il Young, Cha, Hyun Min, Son, Ki Young, Cho, Belong, Kwon, In Soon, Yoon, Jong Lull
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Cognition; Databases, Factual; Diabetes Mellitus - pathology; Disability Evaluation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Frailty - pathology; Gait; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Humans; Male; Original; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Factors; 의학일반
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e25

This study aimed to evaluate the association between baseline results of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and subsequent functional dependency occurrence. 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. 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; < 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; < 0.001). 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.