Simple Test Predicts Older Heart Attack Sufferers' Independence, Function

A nationwide study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found hospitals can conduct a simple walking test to assess the likelihood of functional decline in older adults following a heart attack, reports Medical Xpress . The study entailed 2,587 participants across 94 academic and community hospitals, who were administered the "Timed Up and Go" (TUG) walking assessment. Subjects were asked to rise from a seated position, walk a short distance, turn, walk back, and sit back down, and a strong correlation was observed between poor TUG performance and new limitations in subjects' ability for self-care. "This test was able to predict with high accuracy whether subjects will lose independence in some of the most important tasks needed to live independently," says Yale University's Alexandra Hajduk. She suggests the study findings could enable hospital staff "to proactively apply preventive treatment or tailor rehabilitation to a person's needs, whether that is a physical therapy consultation, home healthcare, or enhanced social support."