Gait and balance assessments as early indicators of frailty in patients with known peripheral artery disease

- Frailty mediate the risk of adverse health outcomes in peripheral artery disease.
- We showed motor impairments at early stages of frailty in peripheral artery disease.
- A 25-step sensor-based in-clinic gait test identified pre-frailty.
- Double support is the most sensitive parameter in identifying pre-frailty.

BackgroundPeripheral artery disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and frailty syndrome may mediate the risk of these adverse health outcomes to predict intervention results. The aim of this study was to determine the association between motor performance impairments based on in-clinic gait and balance measurements with frailty at intermediate stages (pre-frailty) in peripheral artery disease patients.MethodsSeventeen participants with peripheral artery disease (≥ 55 years) were recruited and frailty assessed using Fried criteria. Gait and balance were quantified using wearable sensor technologies in the clinical setting. Between-group differences in frailty were assessed using analysis of variance, and independent associations between gait and balance parameters with frailty were determined using logistic regression models.FindingsBased on Fried index nine (53%), participants were pre-frail and eight (47%) were non-frail. Although no between-group differences in demographics or clinical parameters was observed, gait parameters were worse among pre-frail compared to non-frail participants. The highest effect sizes for between-group differences were observed in double support during habitual normal walking (effect size = 1.86, p < 0.01), speed variability during dual-task (effect size = 1.26, p = 0.03), and trunk sway during fast walking (effect size = 1.43, p = 0.02). No significant difference was observed in balance parameters (p > 0.07). The regression model using gait parameters demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity in predicting pre-frailty.InterpretationA short 25-step sensor-based in-clinic overground gait test objectively identified pre-frailty independent of age. Double support was the most sensitive parameter in identifying pre-frail aging adults.