TUG and Six-Minute Walk Test in Vietnamese Community-Dwelling Elderly

Purpose

To apply the Time Up and Go test (TUG) and Six-Minute Walk test (6MWT) as tools to screen community-dwelling older people for fall risk in Vietnam.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling elders aged 60 and over living in Soc Son district, Vietnam. The TUG and 6MWT were used to assess the risk of falls. The protocol was approved by the National Geriatric Hospital Ethicsal Board (reference no. 35/2017), and all participants provided written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results

A total of 487 participants were included the mean age was 70.9 years (SD = 8.3). There were 67.1% of participants with a high risk of falling according to the TUG, and 5.1% lower than the limits of the norm with the 6MWT test. A statistically significant difference of the TUG was found in the variables of a fall during the past 12 months, fear of falling, narrow indoor path, and indoor light mobility barriers (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of fall risk was observed among older adults residing in the community. The findings can be helpful in conducting further community-based studies in Vietnam.