G-STRIDE inertial system to explore gait factors that are associated with frailty in older adults with falls

Abstract

Purpose Falls and frailty share an intrinsic relationship and World Health Organization recommends health initiatives focused on the early detection of both to increase individual resilience. The objective of the study is to compare clinical characteristics, functional performance, and gait parameters estimated with the G-STRIDE inertial sensor, between different frailty groups in older adults with and without falls and secondly to identify characteristics of prefrail and frail subjects that are associated with falls. Method We conducted an observational, multicenter case-control study in older adults with and without falls. Participants were included in the outpatient clinic in two general public hospitals and three public nursing homes from September 2021 to March 2022. We gathered clinical variables and several gait parameters using G-STRIDE. Frailty status segmentation was based on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) criteria. Results There were 163 participants (72% women and mean age of 82.6 ± 6.2 years), 53% fallers and 70 were fit, 52 were prefrail, and 41 were frail. Frailty and pre-frailty people had more falls and G-STRIDE parameters (mean values and coefficient of variability) show significant differences between frailty groups. Step speed during the swing phase and mean walking speed measured by G-STRIDE identify those prefrail and frail participants with falls. Conclusion G-STRIDE inertial sensor show significant differences between frailty groups and identify gait characteristics of prefrail and frail adults with higher risk of falls suggesting its potential implementation into routine assessment for detecting early frailty.