The relationship between going outdoors and physical function of elderly persons certified as in need of care

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between going outdoors and physical function of elderly persons certified as in need of care. [Subjects] The participants were 359 elderly people (mean age 82.2 ± 7.0 years; 119 men and 240 women) enrolled in the Tsukui Ordered Useful Care for Health (TOUCH) program. [Methods] Subjects performed the chair stand test 5 times, the timed up-and-go test (TUG), and independence of the stair climbing/descending test, and completed the mental status questionnaire. Going outdoors by participants during a one-month period was investigated retrospectively by family members. [Results] Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that TUG was significantly associated with going into town [OR 1.04 (95%CI 1.01-1.08)]. Of the other tests, only independence of the stair climbing/descending was significantly associated with going outside the town [OR 1.74 (95%CI 1.06-2.86)]. [Conclusion] The results suggest that gait performance is associated with going outdoors for elderly people. Stair climbing/descending was a key factor in going outside the town which has more complex circumstances.