Gait analysis and geriatric syndromes: An association among elderly patients attending a teaching hospital of Delhi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Gait abnormalities are prevalent, affecting a substantial portion of the elderly population, and leading to mobility limitations, reduced quality of life, falls, hospitalizations, and premature death. Objectives: The study aims to assess gait patterns among individuals aged 75 years and above attending the geriatric OPD of a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi and evaluate their association with various geriatric syndromes. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, from May 2019 to November 2021, involved 100 participants aged 75 and above. It encompassed a thorough assessment protocol covering demographics, health history, clinical and functional evaluations, depression, cognition, balance, frailty, urinary incontinence, polypharmacy, nutrition, comorbidities, and gait analysis. Results: In this study of elderly individuals, the mean age was 78.56 years, and the mean BMI was 23.11. The participants had an average of 1.74 comorbidities, with hypertension being the most prevalent (62%), followed by diabetes (25%), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD) (11%), and coronary artery disease (15%). Geriatric assessments revealed varying proportions of frailty (34%), polypharmacy (40%), and urinary incontinence (9%). The mean scores for activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, nutritional status, cognitive function, Timed Up and Go Test, and depression scale were also reported. Various gait parameters demonstrated significant correlations with these geriatric factors, including frailty, comorbidities, BMI, and mobility scores. Conclusion: The study identified significant associations between gait patterns and various geriatric syndromes, emphasizing the importance of gait analysis in assessing the health and mobility of elderly individuals.