TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between hilliness and walking speed in community-dwelling older Japanese adults
T2 - A cross-sectional study: Hilliness and slow walking speed
AU - Abe, Takafumi
AU - Okuyama, Kenta
AU - Hamano, Tsuyoshi
AU - Kamada, Masamitsu
AU - Isomura, Minoru
AU - Nabika, Toru
AU - Miyazaki, Ryo
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Purpose: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between hilliness and walking speed in community-dwelling older adults, and whether it varied according to their car-driving status. Methods: Data were collected from 590 participants aged 65 and older living in Okinoshima Town, Shimane prefecture, Japan, in 2018. Comfortable walking speed (m/s) was objectively assessed. Hilliness was measured by the mean land slope (degree) within a 500-m or 1000-m network buffer around each participant's home using a geographic information system. A multiple linear regression examined whether the land slope was associated with walking speed, adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption habits, exercise habits, chronic disease, and living arrangements. A stratified analysis by car-driving status was also conducted. Results: After adjusting for all confounders, the land slope within the 500-m or 1000-m network buffer was negatively associated with walking speed (B = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.011, -0.002]; B = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.011, -0.003], respectively). The stratified analysis by car-driving status showed that living in a hilly area was negatively associated with walking speed among non-drivers in the 500-m or 1000-m network buffer (B = -0.011, 95% CI [-0.017, -0.004]; B = -0.012, 95% CI [-0.019, -0.006]), though there were no associations among drivers. Conclusions: A hilly environment is positively associated with slow walking speed in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Moreover, car-driving status potentially modifies the relationship between living in a hilly environment and slow walking speed.
AB - Purpose: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between hilliness and walking speed in community-dwelling older adults, and whether it varied according to their car-driving status. Methods: Data were collected from 590 participants aged 65 and older living in Okinoshima Town, Shimane prefecture, Japan, in 2018. Comfortable walking speed (m/s) was objectively assessed. Hilliness was measured by the mean land slope (degree) within a 500-m or 1000-m network buffer around each participant's home using a geographic information system. A multiple linear regression examined whether the land slope was associated with walking speed, adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption habits, exercise habits, chronic disease, and living arrangements. A stratified analysis by car-driving status was also conducted. Results: After adjusting for all confounders, the land slope within the 500-m or 1000-m network buffer was negatively associated with walking speed (B = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.011, -0.002]; B = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.011, -0.003], respectively). The stratified analysis by car-driving status showed that living in a hilly area was negatively associated with walking speed among non-drivers in the 500-m or 1000-m network buffer (B = -0.011, 95% CI [-0.017, -0.004]; B = -0.012, 95% CI [-0.019, -0.006]), though there were no associations among drivers. Conclusions: A hilly environment is positively associated with slow walking speed in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Moreover, car-driving status potentially modifies the relationship between living in a hilly environment and slow walking speed.
KW - Land slope
KW - Lder adults
KW - Older adults
KW - Physical function
KW - Rural area
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114172992&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104528
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104510
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104510
M3 - Article
C2 - 34487955
AN - SCOPUS:85114172992
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 97
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
M1 - 104510
ER -