PREDICTORS OF HAND FUNCTION IN OLDER PERSONS - A 2-YEAR LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVE: To validate a hierarchical model of hand function in older persons, using longitudinal data. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational s tudy (2-year data from an ongoing longitudinal study). SUBJECTS: 689 p ersons older than age 60, including Continuing Care Retirement Communi ty (n = 230), homebound (n = 204), and ambulatory (n = 255) respondent s. Mean age at baseline 76.6 (SD = 8.8). MEASUREMENT: Independent vari ables included sociodemographics, physician measures of upper joint im pairment, self-reported comorbidity, arthritis pain, depression, and a nxiety. The dependent variables included grip strength and a timed man ual performance test. MAIN RESULTS: Using generalized estimated equati ons (GEE) to test our hierarchial model, we found that gender and uppe r extremity joint impairment were strongest predictors of a longitudin al measure of grip strength. Grip strength, in turn, along with demogr aphics, comorbidity, and a measure of psychological status, was signif icantly related to timed manual performance. CONCLUSIONS: The longitud inal analyses confirmed a previous cross-sectional finding that upper extremity joint impairment contributes significantly to reduced grip s trength, which, in turn, contributes to reduced hand performance on a timed test.