The Short Physical Performance Battery in Some Korean Rural Community

Han, Seung Hoon; Kim, Seol Mim; Hong, Dae Jong; Choi, Bo Youl; Kim, Mi Jung; Park, Si Bog

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate a characteristics of short physical performance battery (SPPB) in some Korean rural community and to obtain a preliminary data of SPPB in Korea. METHOD: A total of 488 persons aged 22 to 82 with no disability, interviewed and administered a SPPB and a balance test using Mediance(R). Subjects were divided into 3 groups with high (less than 6 points), medium (7 to 9 points) and low (10 to 12 points) risk groups according to SPPB score. Lower extremity performance was measured using SPPB including assessment of standing balance, a timed 4-m walk, and timed test of rising 5 times from a chair. Chronic condition were ascertained as self-report of past disease history. The relationship between general characteristics of subjects, self-report of past history of disease, limb load asymmetry, postural sway and SPPB score were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS
In a multivariate analysis, older age, lower educational background and high body fat mass were associated independently with poor performance. In a multivariateanalysis of subjects aged 60 or older, older age, lower educational background and history of hypertension were associated independently with poor performance.
CONCLUSION
These findings should be considered in planning specially tailored intervention for disability prevention in this subgroups. And this study provides the preliminary evidence that a SPPB is a useful tool in evaluating Korean elderly who are not disabled but have poor lower extremity performance.