To explore the relationship between doing housework and gait speed(GS)in order to identify ways to maintain physical capability in elderly people.

A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted from Jan.2011 to Dec.2011.Subjects in this survey, with a sample of 2 519 males and 2 541 females aged ≥60 years, came from six regions across the country and satisfactorily completed a GS test.A GS in the lower 20% of the reference population(<0.7 m/s)was used as the cut-off point to define slow GS(SGS). Housework was defined as activities such as house cleaning, shopping, cooking and taking care of grandchildren and a response of"often"(≥5 d/week)was considered as doing housework.Propensity Score Matching(PSM)was performed to select comparable sub-groups of the study population to evaluate the association between housework and GS.

There were 3 290 subjects(1 645 pairs)selected by PSM.Logistic regression analysis showed that doing housework was inversely associated with SGS, and housework activities reduced the risk of SGS by 60%(OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.35-0.46, P<0.01).

Elderly people who conduct housework often are more likely to maintain GS and therefore should be encouraged to engage in daily activities to help maintain adequate physical performance.

Gait speed; Housework