Background: The short physical performance battery (SPPB) is a physical performance
test of lower extremity function designed for non-disabled older adults. We aimed to
establish reference values for community-dwelling Colombian adults aged 60 years
or older in terms of (1) the total score; (2) the three subtest scores (walking speed,
standing balance performance, and five times sit-to-stand test); and (3) the time to
complete the five times sit-to-stand test, s and the walking speed test. Additionally,
we sought to explore how much of the variance in the SPPB subtest scores could be
explained by anthropometric variables (age, body mass, height, body mass index, and
calf circumference).
Methods: Participants were men and women aged 60 years or older who participated
in the Health and Well-being and Aging Survey in Colombia, 2015. A sample of
4,211 participants (57.3% women) completed the SPPB test, and their anthropometric
variables were evaluated. Age-specific percentiles were calculated using the LMS
method (3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles).
Results: The mean SPPB total score for the entire sample was 8.73 (2.0)
points. On average, the total SPPB score was 0.85 points greater in men
than in women (p < 0.001). Significant sex differences were observed in all
three age groups tested (60–69, 70–79, and 80+ years). In the full sample,
our findings suggested that age, body mass, height, body mass index, and calf
circumference are significant contributors to walking speed (p < 0.001) after controlling
for confounding factors, including ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and urbanicity.
Conclusions: Percentile values are of interest to identify target populations for primary
prevention and to estimate the proportion of high or low values for SPPB measures in
community-dwelling Colombians aged at least 60 years.
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