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Using multidimensional health measures in older persons to identify risk of hospitalization and skilled nursing placement

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Abstract

We examine the relationship between multidimensional measures of function and outcomes in a cohort of older persons admitted to the residential care level of a multi-level long-term care facility. We collected self-reported measures of various aspects of health using the Medical Outcome Study Short-form Health Survey (SF-20) and the Dartmouth COOP charts, as well as performance-based measures of physical and cognitive function. Subjects (mean age 84.3 years) were followed for a median of 557 days. In multivariate analyses, emotional function (measured by either the SF-20 or COOP method) was a predictor of placement in skilled care. Self-reported overall health (measured by either the SF-20 or COOP method) and timed manual performance were predictive of hospitalization. Change on the functional status measures between 2 points in time was not associated with later placement in skilled care except in the case of timed manual performance. In an older population at risk for frequent and numerous health events, this study shows that two popularized self-report methods for assessing function yield results that predict future outcomes of great importance to older persons. However, measures that predict use of long-term care may not predict use of the hospital and vice versa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Los Angeles, California, USA

    D. B. Reuben, J. G. Ouslander & D. Osterweil

  2. Jewish Home for the Aging of Los Angeles, Reseda, California, USA

    D. B. Reuben, J. G. Ouslander & D. Osterweil

  3. RAND Health Program, Santa Monica, California, USA

    D. B. Reuben, J. G. Ouslander & D. Osterweil

  4. New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, 14th Floor, 12237, Albany, NY, USA

    A. L. Siu

Authors
  1. A. L. Siu
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  2. D. B. Reuben
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  3. J. G. Ouslander
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  4. D. Osterweil
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Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the University of California Academic Geriatric Resource Program and the National Institute on Aging (Older Americans Independence Center and Academic Award to A.L.S.).

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Siu, A.L., Reuben, D.B., Ouslander, J.G. et al. Using multidimensional health measures in older persons to identify risk of hospitalization and skilled nursing placement. Qual Life Res 2, 253–261 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434797

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434797

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