Safety of the gait speed test in hospitalized older adults: a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is associated with a decline in functional capacity, which is often exacerbated during hospitalization. Gait speed is a widely used functional marker in hospitalized older adults; however, in the hospital setting, it is essential to consider the safety of the test, particularly regarding the occurrence or worsening of dyspnea. Studies describing the safety and tolerability of the gait speed test in this population are still scarce. Objective: To evaluate the safety of the gait speed test in hospitalized older adults by assessing the occurrence and worsening of dyspnea, measured using the Borg CR-10 Scale, characterizing a descriptive pilot study. Methods:  Observational, cross-sectional pilot study conducted with nine older adults hospitalized in a public hospital. Gait speed was assessed using the 10-meter walk test, considering a total distance of 14 meters to allow for acceleration and deceleration. Perceived exertion was measured using the Borg CR-10 Scale before and immediately after the test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, expressed as median and interquartile range. Results: Gait speed showed a median of 0.76 m/s (IQR: 0.56–0.84), indicating functional impairment in most participants. Six older adults (66.7%) presented gait speed ≤ 0.8 m/s. Post-test perceived exertion was low in most of the sample, with limited score variability, and no intense or clinically relevant dyspnea was observed after the test. Conclusion: The gait speed test was safe and well tolerated in hospitalized older adults, with no association with the occurrence or clinically relevant worsening of dyspnea. These findings support its use in the hospital setting as a functional assessment tool under conditions of clinical stability and provide a basis for future studies with larger samples.