Perceived health and geriatric risk stratification: observations from family practice.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between perceived health and self-reported presence of certain geriatric conditions. Perceived health (the way people rate their own health) is a summary measure of health status that predicts functional decline, health care use, and mortality, but has not been examined as a measure of the prevalence of key geriatric conditions among older adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional surveys addressing perceived health and other study variables were mailed to practice patients.


METHODS
An urban university-based family medicine residency program.


METHODS
In a random sample of 400 patients (from 1327 potential participants) older than 65 years (excluding those with known dementia), more than half (262) responded with usable surveys.


METHODS
Self-reported geriatric syndromes, such as perceived memory loss, depression, falls, incontinence, weight loss, problems with walking, and difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living.


RESULTS
Of 262 respondents, 102 reported that they perceived their health as poor or fair and were much more likely than people who perceived their health as robust (good, very good, or excellent) to report memory impairment (49.6% vs 23.1%), depression (38.0% vs 13.5%), falls (26.5% vs 12.5%), incontinence (48.5% vs 34.6%), weight loss (33.3% vs 15.4%), needing help with walking (27.3% vs 13.1%), and difficulties with activities of daily living (57.6% vs 24.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the hypothesis that assessment of perceived health can help differentiate low-risk elderly people requiring usual surveillance for geriatric conditions from high-risk elderly people who require timely evaluation and management.
Bluestein
Daniel
D
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA. bluestda@evms.edu
Rutledge
Carolyn M
CM
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis; D015431:Weight Loss