ROAD NETWORK HILLINESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF WALKING DIFFICULTIES AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER PEOPLE

Aims: To study associations between objective road network hilliness and development of walking difficulties (WD) within two years, and to examine how hilliness as a perceived barrier and frequency of moving through the neighborhood affect to this. Methods: Prospective analyses of community-dwelling...

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Published in:Innovation in aging 2017-07, Vol.1 (suppl_1), p.529-530
Main Authors: Keskinen, K., Rantakokko, M., Rantanen, T., Portegijs, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Aims: To study associations between objective road network hilliness and development of walking difficulties (WD) within two years, and to examine how hilliness as a perceived barrier and frequency of moving through the neighborhood affect to this. Methods: Prospective analyses of community-dwelling 75-90-year-old people without any WD at baseline and living at the same address throughout the 2-year follow-up (n=546, 59% women). The average slope in the road network within 500m distance from home was defined using GIS (range 2.7–11.2%). Self-reports of hilliness as perceived barrier for outdoor mobility (yes/no) and frequency of moving through the neighborhood (0–3 / ≥4 times a week) were collected at baseline, and WD over 500m (yes/no) at baseline and follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, gender, number of chronic conditions, years of education, years in current address, and length of road network. Findings : Of the participants 18% perceived hilliness as a barrier, 15% moved through the neighborhood 0–3 times a week, and 15% developed WD over the 2-year follow-up. Higher road network slope increased the risk for developing WD (OR=1.22,CI 1.01–1.48). Hilliness perceived as a barrier (OR=1.51,CI 0.84–2.74) and frequency of moving through the neighborhood (OR=3.41,CI 1.94–6.02) attenuated the association between the road network slope and WD (OR=1.21,CI 0.995–1.47). Conclusions: Hilliness perceived as a barrier and frequency of moving through the neighborhood partly mediate the association between objective road network slope and WD. Further study is needed to determine how hilliness affects behavior and consequently the development of WD.
ISSN:2399-5300
2399-5300
DOI:10.1093/geroni/igx004.1874