سامانه همایش های دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد

صفحه اصلی / اولین همایش بین المللی تحول خدمات سلامت: تلفیق مراقبت، درمان، بازتوانی و امیدبخشی

Gait Speed as a Vital Sign of Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Analytical Review of Evidence and Physiological Mechanisms

نویسندگان :

Sharif Rezaei¹

1- دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد

کلمات کلیدی :

Walking Speed; Gait،Cardiovascular Diseases،Vital Signs،Mass Screening

چکیده :

Abstract Aims: Gait speed is a simple, comprehensive physical function measure, recently proposed as a potential "vital sign" for health assessment, particularly in older adults. Evidence links reduced gait speed to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality, yet this relationship is underexplored from an exercise physiology perspective. This analytical review aimed to examine evidence on the association between gait speed and cardiovascular risk factors and to elucidate physiological mechanisms from an exercise physiology standpoint. Methods: This narrative analytical review was conducted via a targeted search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to January 15, 2026, using keywords related to "gait speed" and "cardiovascular diseases." The review was guided by the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Relevant articles, with an emphasis on recent meta-analyses and large cohort studies published between 2015 and 2026, were identified, and their findings were analytically categorized and interpreted. Results: Meta-analyses show the slowest gait speed, versus the fastest, is associated with a 49% increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 1.49) and a 20% increased risk of CVD (RR = 1.20). The fastest speed is linked to a 46% reduced risk of coronary artery disease (RR = 0.54). Each 0.1 m/s increase in gait speed reduces CVD risk by 4%. This association is explainable through physiological pathways including cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function, physical activity level, and inflammatory markers. Conclusion: Gait speed is a powerful, independent predictor of cardiovascular risk; elucidating its mechanisms highlights exercise physiology's central role. Its use as a simple, non-invasive screening tool in clinical settings, especially for at-risk populations, appears promising.