Normal data of functional assessment tools of the elderly in Spain: The FRADEA Study

Objective: To determine the normal values of some of the functional assessment tools most used in Spain. Design: Cross-sectional study of the first cut of a concurrent population based cohort. Setting: Albacete city Health Area. Participants: A total of 993 subjects aged 70 years or over and participants in the FRADEA (Frailty and dependence in Albacete, Spain) cohort. Main measurements: An analysis was made of disability and function questionnaires, which included, Barthel, Lawton and Short Form of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (SF-LLFDI), Holden's Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and functional tests: walking speed (m/s), Timed Up and Go (TUG) (sec), one-leg balance time (sec), timed 5 Times Sit to Stand Test (5STS) (seg), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), grip strength (kg), and elbow flexion strength (kg). The means, quartiles and percentiles are described, in the global cohort and in the male and female sub-groups aged between 70 and 79 years or aged 80 years or over. Results: The quartiles of the different instruments were as follow: Barthel (80, 95, 100), Lawton (3, 6,8), SF-LLFDI (70, 111, 131), FAC (4, 5, 5), walking speed (0.51, 0.79, 1.00), TUG (13.8, 11.4, 9.8), one-leg balance time (3, 7, 15), 5STS (16.3, 13.0, 10.7), SPPB (7, 9, 11), grip strength (15, 20, 29), and elbow flexion strength (11, 20, 32). The younger ones, males and those living within the community showed a better performance in all the instruments. Conclusions: The normal values of a cohort of the elderly population based in Albacete using different functional assessment instruments are presented. These could be useful in clinical practice or research. (C) 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.