Raj Rishi, Guerra Diana, Sehli Sharmila, Nipp Ryan, Perdue Natalie, Alalawi Raed, Jager Leah, Nugent Kenneth
Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
Am J Med Sci. 2009 Nov;338(5):361-7. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181b2b4ff.
Gait velocity measurements provide functional assessment of patients with diverse diseases and allow predictions about future adverse events. The optimal distance for patient classification is uncertain.
Participants were identified in internal medicine clinics and had to be independently ambulatory. Study investigators collected medical information, used a qualitative test to assess gait and balance (G and B score), and measured gait velocity with a timed 100-foot walk.
One hundred eighty-four patients participated in this study. The mean age was 57.8 +/- 12.7 years; 50% of the participants were men. The mean gait speed was 3.33 +/- 0.71 ft/sec. Gait speed decreased with age and with body mass index (BMI) and increased with height and male sex. Patients with more comorbidities had decreased speed (P < 0.01). There were significant correlations between gait speed and grip strength (P < 0.01) and between lower G and B scores and slower gait speeds (P < 0.01). G and B scores were negatively correlated with age, BMI, and certain diagnoses. They also predicted risk for past falls. The mean heart rate change during the test was 8 beats per minute. Patients in the highest quartile for heart rate change had lower gait speeds than patients in the other 3 quartiles, suggesting physiologic impairment.
A 100-foot walk test in clinic patients provides a practical functional assessment. Gait speed was slower in patients with multiple comorbidities and poor balance. Patients with increased heart rate responses during this test seem to have physiologic impairment. This test has the potential to predict adverse events and to quantitatively determine responses to therapeutic interventions but needs prospective evaluation in clinical studies.
步态速度测量可为患有多种疾病的患者提供功能评估，并有助于预测未来不良事件。用于患者分类的最佳距离尚不确定。
在内科诊所招募参与者，且参与者必须能够独立行走。研究调查人员收集医疗信息，采用定性测试评估步态和平衡（G和B评分），并通过100英尺定时步行测量步态速度。
184名患者参与了本研究。平均年龄为57.8±12.7岁；50%的参与者为男性。平均步态速度为3.33±0.71英尺/秒。步态速度随年龄和体重指数（BMI）增加而降低，随身高增加和男性性别而增加。合并症较多的患者速度较慢（P<0.01）。步态速度与握力之间存在显著相关性（P<0.01），较低的G和B评分与较慢的步态速度之间也存在显著相关性（P<0.01）。G和B评分与年龄、BMI和某些诊断呈负相关。它们还可预测既往跌倒风险。测试期间平均心率变化为每分钟8次。心率变化处于最高四分位数的患者步态速度低于其他三个四分位数的患者，提示存在生理功能损害。
对门诊患者进行100英尺步行测试可提供实用的功能评估。合并症多且平衡能力差的患者步态速度较慢。在此测试中，心率反应增加的患者似乎存在生理功能损害。该测试有潜力预测不良事件并定量确定对治疗干预的反应，但需要在临床研究中进行前瞻性评估。
