[Timed up and go values in older people with and without a history of falls].

BACKGROUND

Timed Up and Go (TUG) is used to assess the risk of falling of older people.

AIM

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TUG as a predictor of falls in older adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

TUG was measured in 148 independent community-dwelling older adults aged 75 ± 7 years (85% women). Of these, 58 reported having a fall in the previous year. Analysis of the ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of common cut-off times used in clinical practice. The times required to perform the TUG as quickly as possible (best fitted time) and at the usual pace (common time) were registered.

RESULTS

Participants with a history of falls had higher TUG times than their counterparts who did not fall (10.9 ± 3.9 and 9.2 ± 2.6 s, respectively). By age groups, only in the 60-69 age group the differences between those who fell and those who did not, were statistically significant (p < 0.05). A cut-off of 9s generates the better sensitivity and specificity for the test (0.60 and 0.57, respectively). For 60-69 age group the best cut-off time is 8.2s, with an increase in sensitivity and specificity to 0.73 and 0.68, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There were differences in TUG values between participants with and without a history of falls. Determining TUG cut-off values by age groups improves the sensitivity and specificity of the test, especially in the 60-69 age range.