Associations of uric acid with wearable sensor-derived digital gait characteristics in older adults: vigor, symmetry, and stability
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Basic Innovation Research, Beijing Hospital, National Center for Gerontology; National Clinical Research Center for Gerontology; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics of NHC; Beijing Key Laboratory of Aging Mechanism and Intervention Research On Aging-Related Diseases; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- 2Peking University Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center for Gerontology
- 3Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center for Gerontology; National Clinical Research Center for Gerontology; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics of NHC; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- 4Central University of Finance and Economics Hospital
- 5Department of Science Research, Beijing Hospital, National Center for Gerontology; National Clinical Research Center for Gerontology; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics of NHC; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Objective Elevated uric acid (UA) has been linked to impaired nervous system and skeletal muscle function. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between UA and digital gait characteristics in older adults. Methods We enrolled 651 older adults (≥ 60 years) who completed a wearable device-based walking test and blood sample detection. Multidimensional sensors were used to measure 15 gait parameters. Asymmetry index (AI) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for each parameter. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between UA and gait characteristics. Results The mean age of all participants was 70.45 ± 6.12 years, with a mean UA concentration of 298.60 ± 92.39 μmol/L. After full adjustment for demographic characteristics and multiple health indicators, per 1-SD increase in UA was positively associated with swing time (β = 6.953, P = 0.007). Conversely, UA was negatively associated with thigh swing work (β = − 0.023, P = 0.003), foot landing control force (β = − 0.134, P < 0.001), stride frequency (β = − 1.074, P = 0.049) and stride length (β = − 0.014, P = 0.012). After false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons, all these associations remained statistically significant except for stride frequency. Higher UA levels were associated with higher AIs of thigh acceleration (β = 0.034, P = 0.013), ground reaction force (β = 0.033, P = 0.002), foot landing control force (β = 0.048, P < 0.001) and toe-off angle (β = 0.061, P = 0.001). UA was positively associated with CVs of swing time (β = 0.032, P < 0.001), ground reaction force (β = 0.015, P = 0.001), foot landing control force (β = 0.018, P = 0.001) and toe-off angle (β = 0.035, P = 0.002). All these associations with gait symmetry and stability indices remained statistically significant after FDR correction. Exploratory analyses identified high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase as potential biomarkers linking the association between UA and gait performance. Conclusion Higher UA levels are associated with poorer gait performance in terms of vigor, symmetry, and stability. The underlying inflammatory and oxidative stress mechanisms need to be elucidated in future experimental studies. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026associations,
title = {{Associations of uric acid with wearable sensor-derived digital gait characteristics in older adults: vigor, symmetry, and stability}},
author = {Chi Zhang and Ye Liu and Yushan Zhang and Jing An and Yuting Kang and Jie Zhang and Guoqing Fan and Zehong Huo and Ping Zeng and Hong Shi and Ji Shen and Jing Li},
journal = {BMC Geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-07993-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07993-8},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations of uric acid with wearable sensor-derived digital gait characteristics in older adults: vigor, symmetry, and stability
AU - Chi Zhang
AU - Ye Liu
AU - Yushan Zhang
AU - Jing An
AU - Yuting Kang
AU - Jie Zhang
AU - Guoqing Fan
AU - Zehong Huo
AU - Ping Zeng
AU - Hong Shi
AU - Ji Shen
AU - Jing Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC Geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-07993-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07993-8
AB - Objective Elevated uric acid (UA) has been linked to impaired nervous system and skeletal muscle function. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between UA and digital gait characteristics in older adults. Methods We enrolled 651 older adults (≥ 60 years) who completed a wearable device-based walking test and blood sample detection. Multidimensional sensors were used to measure 15 gait parameters. Asymmetry index (AI) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for each parameter. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between UA and gait characteristics. Results The mean age of all participants was 70.45 ± 6.12 years, with a mean UA concentration of 298.60 ± 92.39 μmol/L. After full adjustment for demographic characteristics and multiple health indicators, per 1-SD increase in UA was positively associated with swing time (β = 6.953, P = 0.007). Conversely, UA was negatively associated with thigh swing work (β = − 0.023, P = 0.003), foot landing control force (β = − 0.134, P < 0.001), stride frequency (β = − 1.074, P = 0.049) and stride length (β = − 0.014, P = 0.012). After false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons, all these associations remained statistically significant except for stride frequency. Higher UA levels were associated with higher AIs of thigh acceleration (β = 0.034, P = 0.013), ground reaction force (β = 0.033, P = 0.002), foot landing control force (β = 0.048, P < 0.001) and toe-off angle (β = 0.061, P = 0.001). UA was positively associated with CVs of swing time (β = 0.032, P < 0.001), ground reaction force (β = 0.015, P = 0.001), foot landing control force (β = 0.018, P = 0.001) and toe-off angle (β = 0.035, P = 0.002). All these associations with gait symmetry and stability indices remained statistically significant after FDR correction. Exploratory analyses identified high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase as potential biomarkers linking the association between UA and gait performance. Conclusion Higher UA levels are associated with poorer gait performance in terms of vigor, symmetry, and stability. The underlying inflammatory and oxidative stress mechanisms need to be elucidated in future experimental studies. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -