Medical science increasingly struggles to assess the actual health status of elderly citizens.
Fortunately research now points to completely new and better methods for predicting life expectancy.
The healthcare system often lacks objective methods to assess the risk of premature death in older patients.
Current healthcare models rely far too heavily on the patients' own memory regarding their daily physical activity level.
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There is therefore a great need to integrate physical tests as an important supplement to the existing geriatric assessments in the established healthcare system.
Researchers also emphasize the importance of investigating additional factors like smoking and body composition to strengthen future medical results.
Measuring the capacity of the body
Researchers in Taiwan have collected very comprehensive health data from over 13000 citizens with an average age of exactly 72 years.
The large group of older people was evaluated based on four different physical parameters to map their fitness.
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The measurements included among other things a test of the participants' ability to stand on one leg as well as an assessment of their general mobility.
The results from the study, which is published in the journal Jama Network Open, were subsequently adjusted for geographic, economic and health factors through a thorough analysis.
Lower risk of death
The participants in the large study were followed closely for seven whole years to register any deaths throughout the period.
The conclusion finally reveals that the fifth of the participants with the absolutely best overall fitness had a significantly lower mortality rate.
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Specifically good balance and agility combined with a strong lower body reduced the risk of death by a full 61 percent.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.