ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS AND WALKING SPEED IN LATER LIFE: FINDINGS FROM THE ELSI-BRAZIL

Objectives: To evaluate the environmental (physical, social, and the perception of physical environment and neighborhood) determinants associated with having higher walking speed (≥ 1m/s) among older adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on 5,432 older adult participants (aged 60 years and over) at baseline from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Results: Living in a household accessible only by stairs showed lower odds of having walking speed ≥ 1m/s (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.95). After stratification by balance, this pattern was observed only among older adults without balance impairment (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.96). Among those with balance impairment, the concern about having difficulties crossing the street (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.83) and a lack of friends (OR 3.30; 95% CI 1.48 to 7.36) that determine the walking speed. Conclusions: Reducing physical barriers to the household and enhancing the timed traffic lights for crossing streets might help to keep older adults’ walking speed higher or equal than 1m/s, as well as promoting the enlargement of social contacts.