Background: While there is evidence about stablished risk factors (e.g., raised blood pressure) and higher mortality risk in older population, less has been explored about other functional parameters like the Timed Up and Go test and the Gait Speed in older people at low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to study these mobility tests as predictors of mortality in a population of older people in Peru.
Methods: Population-based prospective cohort study (2013-2020). Random sampling of people aged 60+ years in a community of Lima, Peru. Geriatricians conducted all clinical evaluations and laboratory tests were conducted in the local hospital. Participants were sought in the national vital registration system, and we collated cause (ICD-10) and date of death. We conducted a nested forward multivariate Cox proportional hazard model to identify all potential predictors of all-cause, communicable and non-communicable diseases mortality.
Results: At baseline, there were 501 people (mean age 70.6 and 62.8% were women), complete follow-up information was available from 427 people. Mean follow-up time was 46.5 months (SD=25.3). In multivariate models, the Timed Up and Go test was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.09). For cause-specific mortality, history of heart disease (HR=2.25; 95% CI: 1.07-4.76) and age in years (HR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.09) were predictors of non-communicable diseases mortality.
Conclusions: In addition to established risk factors for mortality in older population, the Timed Up and Go test, a functional parameter, raised as a relevant predictor of all-cause mortality.