journal articles
TIMED UP-AND-GO TEST: A POTENTIAL INDICATOR FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING OF OLDER MEN IN TAIWAN
L.-K. Liu, L.-Y. Chen, L.-N. Peng, C.-L. Liu, M.-H. Lin, L.-K. Chen
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2013;2(1):152-156
Background: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test has been associated with balance, falls, physical performance and health outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of TUG, sarcopenia, and functional assessments among the oldest old Chinese men in Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 by recruiting residents of the Taoyuan Veteran Home in Taiwan to evaluate the relationship between demographic profiles, physical function (Barthel Index, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), mental function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale), body composition (fat-free mass), physical performance (handgrip strength), and results of TUG. Results: Overall, 301 subjects (mean age: 85.8±5.3 years, all males), 147 (48.8%) of whom were sarcopenic, were enrolled for study. The study subjects were basically physically and mentally fit. Sarcopenia and results of TUG were significantly associated with older age, smaller body size, poorer physical function, poorer cognitive function and more depressive symptoms. The best cutoff of TUG determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve was 12.5 seconds (sensitivity: 0.72, specificity: 0.63). Multivariate logistic regression showed that older age (OR: 1.06, 95% C.I.: 1.005-1.124, P=0.033), poorer Barthel Index (OR: 1.04, 95% C.I.: 1.002-1.082, P=0.041), poorer Mini-Mental State Examination score (OR: 1.09, 95% C.I.: 1.009-1.187, P=0.030), fat free mass/height2 (OR: 1.33, 95% C.I.: 1.153-1.522, P<0.001), and abnormal TUG (OR: 2.01, 95% C.I.: 1.106-3.636, P=0.022) were all independent risk associative factors for sarcopenia, but not depressive symptoms (OR: 1.12, 95% C.I.: 0.947-1.333, P=0.181). Conclusions: TUG was significantly associated with poorer physical function, mental function and mood status, as well as sarcopenia, which may play an important role in community-based screening programs for successful agers and sarcopenia among oldest old people.