PHYSICAL FRAILTY IN OLDER URBAN AFRICAN AMERICANS

Project Background

Health disparities are evident for African Americans and are a major focus for the USA health agenda (e.g., DHHS Healthy People 2010). This project seeks to understand the contribution of social and biological factors on poor health outcomes, especially physical frailty and disability.

Project Objectives

Primary goals of this project are to understand the various levels of contribution to outcomes of individual and social (environmental) contributions to frailty and disability in middle ages.

Project Methods

This is an Expert Panel project, with recommendations and activities carried out by the RRTC itself. Activities include literature reviews, consensus statements, and publications about methods and measure of health status for this population.

Project Findings

Findings from this study, to date, are included in publications listed below. The contribution of early functional changes to later frailty, and of both neighborhood and individual level poverty, have been consistent among a number of outcomes. In addition, the study has produced findings about the science of methods and measures for research in this population.

Project Status

Data analysis.

Project Impact

Findings have been relayed to research and clinical peers, and to participants themselves. This project involves a formal analysis and publications committee for improving dissemination and impact.

Stroke QUERI Executive Committee | Stroke QUERI Strategic Plan FY2007 | Stroke QUERI Organizational Chart | Contact the Stroke QUERI Center | Contact the Stroke QUERI Webmaster