Luiz MM, Máximo RDO, de Oliveira DC, Ramírez PC, de Souza AF, Delinocente MLB, Cochar-Soares N, Steptoe A, de Oliveira C, Alexandre TDS. 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 2024;
26:2349-2358. [PMID:
38514386 PMCID:
PMC11078602 DOI:
10.1111/dom.15549]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
AIM
Although diabetes is a risk factor for walking speed decline in older adults, it remains unclear how glycaemic control [assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)] might affect the long-term trajectories of walking speed. We investigated whether the glycaemic control status accelerates the walking speed decline and whether this decline differs depending on previous mobility conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In total, 3202 individuals aged ≥60 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were classified at baseline and after 4 and 8 years of follow-up according to glycaemic control status as 'without diabetes' (no self-reported diabetes and HbA1c <6.5%), 'good glycaemic control' (self-reported diabetes and HbA1c ≥6.5% and <7.0%) and 'poor glycaemic control' (PGC) (self-reported diabetes and HbA1c ≥7.0%). The generalized linear mixed models verified the walking speed trajectories in m/s. A second analysis was performed, including only participants without slowness at baseline (>0.8 m/s).
RESULTS
Compared with the status 'without diabetes', the annual walking speed decline was -0.015 m/s for PGC and -0.011 m/s for good glycaemic control, totalling -0.160 and -0.130 m/s, respectively, over 8 years. Among those without slowness at baseline, only PGC had a significant walking speed decline, corresponding to -0.014 m/s per year and -0.222 m/s over 8 years.
CONCLUSIONS
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.
Collapse