Terminal Decline in Physical Function in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is currently unclear whether (and when) physical function exhibits a terminal decline phase, that is, a substantial acceleration of decline in the very last years before death.

Methods

702 deceased adults aged 70 years and older from the Yale PEP Study provided 4 133 measurements of physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB) up to 20 years before death. In addition, continuous gait and chair rise subtest scores (in seconds) were assessed. Generalized mixed regression models with random change points were used to estimate the onset and the steepness of terminal decline in physical function.

Results

Decline accelerated in the last years of life in all 3 measures of physical function. The onset of terminal decline occurred 1 year before de

SUBMITTER: Stolz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10733182 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature