Slow gait speed is associated with frailty, activities of daily living and nutritional status in in-patient pulmonology patients.

Background And Aim: The 4-meter gait speed (4MGS), a functional performance test, is increasingly used to predict health outcomes. This study investigated 4MGS, nutritional status, frailty, and daily living activities in tertiary care pulmonary diseases ward patients.

Methods: Patients were assessed for nutritional status, activities of daily living, and frailty using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) Test, Barthel Questionnaire, and FRAIL scale. Those with 4MGS < 1 m/sec were classified as having slow gait speed.

Results: 80 patients (F/M: 21/59, mean age 58 ± 19) were included. Diagnoses included pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pleural effusion, and interstitial lung disease. Patients had a 4MGS of 0,74 ± 0,24 m/sn, MNA score of 14.0 [IQR 25-75:11.0-19.8] points, Barthel index of 95 [IQR 25-75:70-100] points, FRAIL scale of 3 [IQR 25-75:1.0-4.0], and a hand-grip strength of 18.8 [IQR 25-75:15.7-25.9] kg. Slow gait speed patients had lower MNA, FRAIL scores, and handgrip strength. Multivariable regression analysis showed that slower gait speed was associated with lower serum protein level (B = 0.013, SE = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.022, p = 0.004), lower hand grip strength (B = -0.002, SE = 0.001, 95% CI: -0.003 to -0.00006, p = 0.041) and malnutrition risk (B = 0.024, SE = 0.007, 95% CI: 0.011 to 0.038, p < 0.001).

Discussion And Conclusion: 4MGS correlates with comorbidities, frailty, grip strength, and nutritional status in hospitalized pulmonary patients. Slow gait patients are more malnourished despite similar age, sex, BMI, and comorbidities.