Peak Heart Rate during the 6-Minute Walk Test Predicts Cognitive Performance of Healthy Older Adults

Fall-risk classification is a challenging but necessary task to enable the recommendation of preventative programs for individuals identified at risk for falling. Existing research has primarily focused on older adults, with no predictive fall-risk models for lower limb amputees, despite their greater likelihood of fall-risk than older adults. In this study, 89 amputees with varying degrees of lower limb amputation were asked if they had fallen in the past 6 months. Those who reported at least one fall were considered a fall risk. Each participant performed a 6 minute walk test (6MWT) with an Android smartphone placed in a holder located on the back of the pelvis. A fall-risk classification method was developed using data from sensors within the smartphone. The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Center Walk Test app captured accelerometer and gyroscope data during the 6MWT. From this data, foot strikes were identified, and 248 features were extracted from the collection of steps. Steps were segmented into turn and straight walking, and four different data sets were created: turn steps, straightaway steps, straightaway and turn steps, and all steps. From these, three feature selection techniques (correlation-based feature selection, relief F, and extra trees classifier ensemble) were used to eliminate redundant or ineffective features. Each feature subset was tested with a random forest classifier and optimized for the best number of trees. The best model used turn data, with three features selected by Correlation-based feature selection (CFS), and used 500 trees in a random forest classifier. The resulting metrics were 81.3% accuracy, 57.2% sensitivity, 94.9% specificity, a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.587, and an F1 score of 0.83. Since the outcomes are comparable to metrics achieved by existing clinical tests, the classifier may be viable for use in clinical practice.

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Complex approach to assessment of functional status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Nauka molodykh (Eruditio Juvenium) ◽

10.23888/hmj202194553-558 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 553-558

Author(s):

Aleksey V. Kosyakov ◽

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Functional Status ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Clinical Diagnostics ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Walk Test ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

6 Minute Walk Test ◽

Minute Walk

BACKGROUND: Considering the economic costs of managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as the high mortality and disability rate, it is necessary to improve the diagnosis of the disease, to look for new approaches to assessing the functional status of patients. AIM: Is to study the functional status of patients with COPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive approach was applied to assess the functional status of patients: the data of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), heart rate variability (HRV) was studied, ergoreflex was assessed according to HRV data. 64 patients with COPD and 41 male volunteers without respiratory diseases older than 40 years were examined. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using the licensed package of applied statistical programs Excel 2010 and Statistica 10. RESULTS: The group of patients with COPD and the respondents of the control group were comparable in terms of body mass index, heart rate, respiratory rate, index of indicators of activity of regulatory systems (p > 0.05). As expected, during the 6MWT, differences were obtained between the studied groups in terms of the distance covered (p < 0.01). Similarly, the results of the study of the function of external respiration showed a statistically significant difference in all the studied parameters (p < 0.01). The results obtained confirmed the presence of impaired respiratory function in the group of patients with COPD. Analysis of HRV values, when conducting a test with external peripheral vascular occlusion, confirmed ergoreflex hyperactivity in patients with COPD. CONCLUSION: The integration of methods for routine clinical diagnostics of patients condition (spirometry, 6-minute walk test, assessment of autonomic status) and the introduction of the study of ergoreflex activity made it possible to expand the understanding of the functional state of patients with COPD and is of great interest for further research.

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Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Influence of Fibromyalgia Status on Physical Performance and BMI in Aging Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3108 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 858-858

Author(s):

Dylan Serpas ◽

Laura Zettel-Watson ◽

Barbara Cherry

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Performance Measure ◽

Walk Test ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Chair Stand ◽

Aging Adults ◽

6 Minute Walk Test ◽

Minute Walk

Abstract Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that is frequently accompanied by comorbid conditions, including depression. Depression is associated with reduced physical functioning and health disproportionately affecting middle-aged and older adults with fibromyalgia. This study examined depressive symptoms as a mechanism through which FM status is associated with BMI and physical performance among adults in mid-to-late-life. Participants included 250 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (82% female) with (59%) or without (41%) fibromyalgia (M age = 64.44, SD = 9.16). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, BMI was objectively assessed, and physical performance was measured using the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale, 6-Minute Walk Test, 30-Second Chair Stand, and 8-Foot Up and Go Test. Physical performance measure analyses were adjusted for age. Asymptotic mediation analyses revealed that fibromyalgia status was indirectly associated with higher BMI (95% CI [.18, 16.74]), and poorer performance in the Fullerton Advanced Balance (CI [-2.93, -1.24]), 6-Minute Walk Test (CI [-73.75, -35.35]), 30-Second Chair Stand (CI [-2.45, -1.16]), and 8-Foot Up and Go test (CI [.35, .92]) via depressive symptoms. Participants with fibromyalgia reported greater depressive symptoms which was subsequently associated with greater BMI and reduced physical performance. Findings support depressive symptoms as one factor through which fibromyalgia status is associated with higher obesity risk and reduced physical function in middle-aged and older adults with fibromyalgia. This study supports fibromyalgia status as a critical consideration when evaluating the health and disability risk of aging adults.

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Physiology of 1-Mile Walk Test in Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.3.4.373 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 373-382 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carmelo Bazzano ◽

Lee N. Cunningham ◽

Giovanni Cama ◽

Tony Falconio

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Minute Ventilation ◽

Walk Test ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Older Subjects ◽

Physiologic Data

This study examined the physiology of the 1-mile walk test as administered in the field with 16 (7 M, 9 F) older adults (mean age 66.1 ± 5.9 yrs). Physiologic data were obtained via a Cosmed K2 miniaturized O2analyzer with telemetric capabilities during a maximal treadmill (TM) test and a 1-mile walk test (MWT). Oxygen consumption (ml · kg−1· min−1), minute ventilation (L · min−1), and heart rate (b · min−1) values obtained at maximal levels on the TM were 25.6 ± 7.6, 57 ± 17, and 155 ± 16, respectively. The measured V̇O2submax during the MWT was 18.5 + 5, V̇Esubmax was 44 ± 10, and HR submax was 140 ± 19. The subjects were able to hold 74% of the V̇O2max, 81% of V̇Emax, and 91% of HR max. An upward drift for HR and V̇Ewas noted while V̇O2remained constant throughout the MWT. The MWT with older subjects requires a vigorous level of metabolic and cardiorespiratory intensity. For healthy older adults who have been properly screened for hidden metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, participation in the MWT appears feasible.

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