A Matched Cohort Analysis for Examining the Association Between Slow Gait Speed and Shortened Longevity in Older Americans

Abstract

This investigation examined the association between slow gait speed, as defined with newly established cut-points, and all-cause mortality in older Americans with a matched cohort analysis. The analytic sample included 10,259 Americans aged ≥65 years from the 2006–2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Walking speed was measured in participant residences. Slow gait speed cut-points of <0.60 and <0.75 m/s were used separately for classifying participants as having slow walking speed. Nearest-neighbor propensity score matching was used to match the slow to the not-slow cohorts separately using both cut-points using relevant covariates. Persons with gait speed <0.60 m/s had a 1.42 higher hazard for mortality (95% CI: 1.28–1.57). Older Americans with gait speed <0.75 m/s had a 1.36 higher hazard for mortality (95% CI: 1.23–1.50). Slow gait speed may represent failing health and addressing how slow gait speed could be improved may help with referrals to appropriate interventions.