Positive affect and pain ratings in persons with stroke.

Objective: To examine the association between positive affect at discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation and pain ratings 3 months postdischarge in persons with stroke aged 50 or older.

Design: A longitudinal study using information from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Population (SRUP) data base. A 4-item positive affect scale and an 11-point visual analog pain scale were collected at discharge and at 3 months postdischarge.

Religious Involvement and Physical Functioning among Older Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Examine the association between attendance at religious services and incidence of ADL disability over a period of seven years among older Mexican Americans 65 years and older. METHODS: Using data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), logistic generalized estimation equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the contribution of attendance at religious services to the differences in incidence of ADL disability over seven years, controlling for demographics, medical conditions, and physical mobility. RESULTS: Frequent attendees at religious services had 30% lower odds of developing ADL disability over seven years compared to the non-regular attendance group.

Walking speed threshold for classifying walking independence in hospitalized older adults.

Background: Walking speed norms and several risk thresholds for poor health outcomes have been published for community-dwelling older adults. It is unclear whether these values apply to hospitalized older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the in-hospital walking speed threshold that best differentiates walking-independent from walking-dependent older adults.

Change in positive emotion and recovery of functional status following stroke.

Objectives: To investigate change in positive emotion over a 3-month follow-up period and determine whether this change is associated with recovery of functional status in persons with stroke.

Design: A longitudinal study using information from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Patients (SRUP) database. Positive emotion and functional status were assessed within 72 hours of discharge from an in-patient medical rehabilitation facility and at 3-month follow-up using established measurement instruments.

Sex differences in mortality among older frail Mexican Americans.

Objective: To examine the association between frailty and 10-year mortality among older men and women of Mexican American origin.

Methods: Data were collected from 1995-1996 through 2004-2005 among community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged >or=65 years as part of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (HEPESE). A standardized frailty measure based on weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, walking speed, and physical activity was computed.

Gender and ethnic differences in rehabilitation outcomes after hip-replacement surgery.

Objective: To examine gender and ethnic differences in functional status and living setting for patients after hip arthroplasty.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of 69,793 patients receiving inpatient medical rehabilitation after hip arthroplasty included in the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation database for the period of 2002-2003. Primary measures included functional status as assessed by the FIM instrument and discharge living setting (home vs.

Associations between positive emotion and recovery of functional status following stroke.

Objective: Accumulating evidence indicates the beneficial effects of positive emotion on health and general well-being in older age. Less evidence is available on whether positive emotion supports improvement in functional status after an acute medical event such as stroke. This study examined the association between positive emotion at discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation and functional status 3 months later in persons with stroke.

Satisfaction with quality of life poststroke: effect of sex differences in pain response.

Objective: To study the relationship between sex differences among men and women in the response to pain and the effect on satisfaction with quality of life (QOL) in poststroke patients approximately 90 days after discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Setting: Community based.

Attendance at religious services and physical functioning after stroke among older Mexican Americans.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of attendance at religious services and change in physical functioning among older Mexican Americans who report residual physical limitations due to stroke. Using data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), generalized linear models were used to evaluate change in physical function over 3 years in persons with stroke aged 65 and older, controlling for demographics, medical conditions, health behaviors, and physical mobility. The results showed frequent attendees at religious services had significantly fewer declines in activities of daily living (ADLs) disability compared to infrequent attendees.

Perceived pain and satisfaction with medical rehabilitation after hospital discharge.

Objective: To examine the association between pain and satisfaction with medical rehabilitation in patients with hip or knee replacement approximately 90 days after discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation.

Design: A cross-sectional design.

Participants: The sample included 2507 patients with hip or knee replacement using information from the IT Health Track medical outcome database.