Discrimination of Frailty Phenotype by KinectTM-Based Stepping Parameters

Y Osuka; N Takeshima; N Kojima; T Kohama; E Fujita; M Kusunoki; Y Kato; W F Brechue; H Sasai

doi:10.14283/jarlife.2023.17

Discrimination of Frailty Phenotype by Kinect^TM-Based Stepping Parameters

JAR Life. 2023 Dec 20:12:100-104. doi: 10.14283/jarlife.2023.17. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Y Osuka^{1

2}, N Takeshima³, N Kojima², T Kohama⁴, E Fujita⁵, M Kusunoki⁴, Y Kato⁶, W F Brechue⁷, H Sasai¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Frailty Research, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi, Japan.
² Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Asahi University, Gifu, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Wakayama, Japan.
⁵ Department of Sports and Life Science, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan.
⁶ Department of Physical Therapy, Nagoya Women's University, Aichi, Japan.
⁷ Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Missouri, USA.

Abstract

Background: Frailty increases the risk of falling, hospitalization, and premature death, necessitating practical early-detection tools.

Objectives: To examine the discriminative ability of Kinect^TM-based stepping parameters for identifying frailty phenotype.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: Eighteen neighborhoods near Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.

Participants: In total, 563 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥75 years without mobility limitations, neurological disease, or dementia were included.

Measurements: Step number (SN) and knee total movement distance (KMD) during a 20-s stepping test were evaluated using the Kinect^TM infrared depth sensor.

Results: The number (%) of participants with frailty were 51 (9.1). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) of a parameter consisting of SN and KMD for frailty was 0.72 (0.64, 0.79).

Conclusions: Stepping parameters evaluated using Kinect^TM provided acceptable ability in identifying frailty phenotype, making it a practical screening tool in primary care and home settings.

Keywords: KinectTM; aging; digital biomarker; frailty; mobility.

Grants and funding

Funding : This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (grant Numbers JP20K11656 and JP21H03283). The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the preparation of the manuscript; or in the review or approval of the manuscript.