The MAT-sf: identifying risk for major mobility disability

Authors: REJESKI, W - Wake Forest University; RUSHING, JULIA - Wake Forest University; GURALNIK, JACK - University Of Maryland; IP, EDWARD - Wake Forest University; KING, ABBY - Stanford University; MANINI, TODD - University Of Florida; MARSH, ANTHONY - Wake Forest University; MCDERMOTT, MARY - Northwestern University; FIELDING, ROGER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; NEWMAN, ANNE - University Of Pittsburgh; TUDOR-LOCKE, CATRINE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; GILL, THOMAS - Yale University

Submitted to: Journal of Gerontology Medical Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2014
Publication Date: 5/1/2015
Citation: Rejeski, W.J., Rushing, J., Guralnik, J.M., Ip, E.H., King, A.C., Manini, T.M., Marsh, A.P., McDermott, M.M., Fielding, R.A., Newman, A.B., Tudor-Locke, C., Gill, T.M. 2015. The MAT-sf: identifying risk for major mobility disability. Journal of Gerontology Medical Science. 70(5):641-646. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glv003.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glv003

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine a newly developed self-report measure of mobility, the mobility assessment tool-short form (MAT-sf). The MAT-sf uses video animations as an innovative method to improve measurement accuracy/precision. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate whether MAT-sf scores can be used to identify risk for major mobility disability (MMD). We used data collected from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study and involved 1,574 older adults between the ages of 70-89. Baseline MAT-sf scores were found to be effective in identifying risk for MMD. Dividing the MAT-sf into four groups revealed that persons with scores <40, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+ had failure (rates of MMD) rates across 42 months of follow-up of 66%, 52%, 35%, and 22%. These results suggest that the MAT-sf is a simple tool that is highly predictive of mobility disability in older adults and can be used to monitor mobility status.

Technical Abstract: BACKGROUND: The assessment of mobility is essential to both aging research and clinical geriatric practice. A newly developed self-report measure of mobility, the mobility assessment tool-short form (MAT-sf), uses video animations as an innovative method to improve measurement accuracy/precision. The primary aim of the current study was to evaluate whether MAT-sf scores can be used to identify risk for major mobility disability (MMD). METHODS: This article is based on data collected from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders study and involved 1,574 older adults between the ages of 70-89. The MAT-sf was administered at baseline; MMD, operationalized as failure to complete the 400-m walk