Risk factor analysis of the decrease in gait speed among Japanese older outpatients with polypharmacy.

Background: Both polypharmacy and frailty are critical issues faced by the elderly. The decrease in gait speed is an index of frailty, and it is generally associated with falls and fractures, which are risk factors requiring the need for support or long-term patient care. In this study, we assess the risk factors responsible for the decrease in gait speed in older outpatients with polypharmacy.

Methods: Thirty-one persons (13 men, 18 women) aged 65 years or above and regularly taking 5 or more internal medications participated in this study.

Results: Propensity score-adjusted multivariate logistic analysis showed that only number of medications was associated with the risk of decreasing gait speed (odds ratio: 16.00, 95% confidence interval:1.72-149.00, value = 0.0149). A negative correlation was found between the number of medications and gait speed. In addition, the gait speed of the calcium channel blocker medication group was significantly slower than that of the non-medication group.

Conclusion: These results suggest that not only the number of medications but also the prescription contents is a risk factor for decrease in gait speed and may serve as indexes to identify patients at high risk of requiring support or long-term care.