title: A cross-sectional study examining the functional independence of elderly individuals with a functioning kidney transplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cross-sectional studies of patients dependent on dialysis show that they have a high need for help with routine daily activities. In many cases, individuals who undergo kidney transplantation have previously been treated with dialysis for a significant period of time, thus many of the characteristics may be similar. The purpose of this study was to estimate the rate of functional disability in a cross-sectional population of older patients with a functioning kidney transplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kidney transplant patients, aged 65 years or more, were approached to participate. Patients were interviewed to ascertain current living situation, employment status, and 1-year fall history. Functional assessments included the Barthel Index, the Lawton-Brody Scale, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and dynamometer handgrip strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two patients (71%) agreed to participate. Over half (54%) reported being disabled or requiring assistance for at least one daily-living activity, with housekeeping, grocery shopping, and laundry being the activities most commonly affected. Most patients had markedly impaired TUG and handgrip tests, and 21% recalled having fallen more than once in the past year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We used a single-center, cross-sectional study design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate a high prevalence of functional dependence, unintentional falls, and significant morbidity associated with decreased muscle strength in the older kidney transplant population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. 2 Address correspondence to: Sarbjit V. Jassal, M.D., Geriatric Dialysis Rehabilitation Program, 200 Elizabeth St, 8N 857, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2C4.
authors.forename: Gurnaam Singh
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kasbia
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farragher
authors.forename: Sang Joseph
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Olusegun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Famure
authors.forename: Sarbjit Vanita
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Jassal
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male