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Abstract Aim Although diabetes is a risk factor for walking speed decline in older adults, it remains unclear how glycaemic control assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) might affect the long‐term trajectories of walking speed. We investigated whether the glycaemic control status accelerates the walking speed decline and whether this decline differs depending on previous mobility conditions. Materials and Methods In total, 3202 individuals aged ≥60 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were classified at baseline and after 4 and 8 years of follow‐up according to glycaemic control status as ‘without diabetes’ (no self‐reported diabetes and HbA1c 0.8 m/s). Results Compared with the status ‘without diabetes’, the annual walking speed decline was −0.015 m/s for PGC and −0.011 m/s for good glycaemic control, totalling −0.160 and −0.130 m/s, respectively, over 8 years. Among those without slowness at baseline, only PGC had a significant walking speed decline, corresponding to −0.014 m/s per year and −0.222 m/s over 8 years. Conclusions Poor glycaemic control is a discriminator of walking speed decline in older adults, regardless of previous mobility conditions. It may serve as an early screening tool for those at risk of decreased functional performance later in life.
Luiz et al. (2024) studied this question.