Mobilizing to Address Increasing Population Disability
Authors: Lisa I. Iezzoni
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Editorials17 January 2012Mobilizing to Address Increasing Population DisabilityLisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MScLisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MScFrom Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-156-2-201201170-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail As is frequently observed, growing old is not for the faint of heart. In a rigorous, albeit observational, longitudinal cohort study in this issue, Gill and colleagues (1) confirm 2 widely recognized “inconvenient truths” of aging: Losing the ability to walk even short distances and to drive cars is common toward the end of life, and these outcomes are strongly associated with being very old, having previous physical limitations, and being sick enough to require hospitalization. The authors write bravely about forestalling these eventualities; for example, by preventing strokes and heart attacks. Nonetheless, given the current state of medical science—and ...References1. Gill TM, Gahbauer EA, Murphy TE, Han L, Allore HG. Risk factors and precipitants of long-term disability in community mobility. A cohort study of older persons. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:131-40. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Field MJ, Jette AM, eds. Institute of Medicine Committee on Disability in America. The Future of Disability in America. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2007. Google Scholar3. World Health Organization. The World Bank. World Report on Disability. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011. Google Scholar4. Stone DA. The Disabled State. Philadelphia: Temple Univ Pr; 1984. Google Scholar5. Iezzoni LI, Freedman VA. Turning the disability tide: the importance of definitions. JAMA. 2008;299:332-4. [PMID: 18212318] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001. Google Scholar7. Iezzoni LI. When Walking Fails. Mobility Problems of Adults With Chronic Conditions. Berkeley, CA: Univ California Pr; 2003. Google Scholar8. Greer N, Brasure M, Wilt TJ. Wheeled mobility (wheelchair) service delivery: scope of the evidence. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:141-6. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M11-2776.Corresponding Author: Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc, Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Room 901B, Boston, MA 02114. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRisk Factors and Precipitants of Long-Term Disability in Community Mobility Thomas M. Gill , Evelyne A. Gahbauer , Terrence E. Murphy , Ling Han , and Heather G. Allore Wheeled Mobility (Wheelchair) Service Delivery: Scope of the Evidence Nancy Greer , Michelle Brasure , and Timothy J. Wilt Metrics Cited byOne Size Does Not Fit All—Mobility Device Type Affects Speed, Collisions, Fatigue, and Pain 17 January 2012Volume 156, Issue 2Page: 160-161KeywordsAgingElderlyHealth careHospitalizationsMultiple sclerosisPublic policyQuality of lifeWalking ePublished: 17 January 2012 Issue Published: 17 January 2012 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...