Further evidence for the importance of subclinical functional limitation and subclinical disability assessment in gerontology and geriatrics.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this work were to determine the prevalence of self-reported subclinical status for functional limitation and disability at baseline and assess their independent effects on the onset of functional limitation and disability 1-2 years later.


METHODS
Nine hundred ninety-eight African American men and women 49-65 years old in St. Louis, MO, received comprehensive in-home evaluations at baseline and two annual telephone follow-ups. Outcome measures included walking a half-mile, climbing steps, stooping-crouching-kneeling, lifting or carrying 10 lbs., and doing heavy housework.


RESULTS
The baseline prevalence of subclinical status was 26.4% for walking a half-mile, 26.8% for climbing steps, 39.0% for stooping-crouching-kneeling, 29.1% for lifting or carrying 10 lbs., and 22.7% for doing heavy housework. The adjusted odds ratios for the task-specific subclinical status measure at baseline on developing difficulty 1-2 years later were 1.68 (p < .05) for walking a half-mile, 4.46 (p < .001) for climbing steps, 2.48 (p < .001) for stooping-crouching-kneeling, 2.51 (p < .001) for lifting or carrying 10 lbs., and 2.22 (p < .001) for doing heavy housework. Performance tests (tandem stand, chair stands, and preferred gait speed) did not have consistent independent effects on the onset of functional limitation or disability.


CONCLUSIONS
The subclinical status measures were the main predictors of the onset of difficulty in all tasks and functions 1-2 years later. Interventions to reduce frailty should focus on self-reported subclinical status as an early warning system.
Wolinsky
Fredric D
FD
University of Iowa, and Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center, IA, USA. fredric-wolinsky@uiowa.edu
Miller
Douglas K
DK
Andresen
Elena M
EM
Malmstrom
Theodore K
TK
Miller
J Philip
JP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009048:Motor Skills; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking