Could poor glycaemic control be a predictor of walking speed decline in older adults? Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors' conclusion
Poor glycaemic control is a discriminator of walking speed decline in older adults, regardless of previous mobility conditions. It may serve as an early screening tool for those at risk of decreased functional performance later in life.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥60 years, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA); classified at baseline and after 4 and 8 years
- Participants
- 3,202 adults
- Exposure
- Good or poor glycaemic control vs without diabetes
- Outcome
- Walking speed trajectories (m/s)
- Follow-up
- 8 years
Methodological detailsgeneralized linear mixed models
- Generalized linear mixed models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Walking speed decline vs without diabetes · annual and over 8 years
Annual walking speed decline
−0.015 m/s
Poor glycaemic control (PGC) · −0.160 m/s over 8 years
Annual walking speed decline
−0.011 m/s
Good glycaemic control · −0.130 m/s over 8 years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Walking speed decline (m/s) |
|---|---|
| Walking speed decline in those without slowness at baseline (>0.8 m/s) · annual and over 8 yearsPGC vs Without diabetes · per year; −0.222 m/s over 8 years | −0.014 |
Walking speed decline in those without slowness at baseline (>0.8 m/s) · annual and over 8 years
- Only PGC had a significant walking speed decline
Original publication
Could poor glycaemic control be a predictor of walking speed decline in older adults? Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 21 March 2024. doi:10.
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