To clarify the influence of age and gender differences on the association between VI and walking speed in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation during hospitalization.
This prospective multicentre cohort study (K-CREW) included older (aged ≥65 years) patients who underwent cardiac rehabilitation during hospitalization from October 2020 to March 2023. VI was assessed on a 5-point scale using a self-reported questionnaire. Walking speed (m/s) was calculated from a 4-m walk at usual pace. Patients were classified into four groups by age (young-old: aged 65–74 years, old-old: aged ≥ 75 years) and gender: young-old male, old-old male, young-old female, and old-old female. Multivariate linear analysis was performed for each group to examine age and gender differences in the association between VI and walking speed.
From 3608 patients overall, 408 were included in the analysis. VI was present in 28.9% of them. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of VI between the four groups (P = 0.426). Walking speed was significantly slower in the old-old male group and the old-old female group (P 0.001). Multivariate linear analysis adjusted for confounding factors showed that among the four groups, VI was significantly associated with walking speed only in the young-old male group (P = 0.002).
VI was associated with walking speed only in the young-old male group, whose walking speed was relatively preserved. This study revealed that age and gender differences can influence the association between VI and walking speed in patients with cardiac disease.
Improving physical function alone may not be sufficient to improve walking speed in young-old male patients with cardiac disease, and interventions for VI may also be necessary. From the perspective of walking speed, young-old males appear to be those most in need of prevention and intervention for eye frailty. However, even in patients with other diseases, it is necessary to consider the effects of age and gender when examining the association between VI and walking speed.
Walking speed
Age and gender differences
