title: Geriatric syndromes and functional status in NSHAP: rationale, measurement, and preliminary findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The geriatric functional measures and syndromes collected 5 years apart in Waves 1 and 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) data set included: difficulty with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, the timed up and go, a 3-m timed walk, repeated chair stands, self-reported physical activity, accelerometry-assessed (in)activity, falls, fractures, and frailty. The purpose of this paper was to describe the data collection methods and report preliminary population estimates for each measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequencies, means, or medians were estimated for each measure stratified by age and gender, using the age-eligible samples in Wave 1 (n = 3,005) and Wave 2 (n = 3,196). An adapted phenotypic frailty scale was constructed in the sample common to both waves (n = 2,261). Changes over 5 years were reported for four measures common to both waves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The functional measures worsened with age (p < .001). The syndromes were more prevalent with age except "all fractures" (p value range < .001-.03). Functional measures were worse among females than males except chair stand performance and the accelerometry-assessed (in)activity measures (p value range < .001-.01). The syndromes were more common among females than males except Wave 2 falls and Wave 2 hip fractures (p value range < .001-.03). Changes from Wave 1 to 2 revealed 11.5%-25.2% of individuals reported better health and 21.3%-44.7% reported worse health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NSHAP provides a comprehensive assessment of geriatric health. Our findings are consistent with the literature and support the construct of the study measures.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois. megan.huisingh-scheetz@uchospitals.edu.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huisingh-Scheetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Masha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocherginsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Phillip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Schumm
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Martha K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: McClintock
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magett
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Waite
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056044:Actigraphy; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Accelerometry; Falls; Fracture; Frailty; Functional assessment; Gait; Older adults; Physical activity.