Modeling Secondary Health Conditions in Adults Aging With Physical Disability. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molton, Ivan R.; Terrill, Alexandra L.; Smith, Amanda E.; Yorkston, Kathryn M.; Alschuler, Kevin N.; Ehde, Dawn M.; Jensen, Mark P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 26:Number 3(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: secondary health conditions -- disability -- aging -- spinal cord injury -- post-polio syndrome -- multiple sclerosis; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264313516166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objectives: To test a conceptual model of secondary health conditions, age, and function in persons aging with long-term physical disabilities.Methods: Surveys were collected from 1, 862 adults with spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disease, multiple sclerosis, or post-polio syndrome. Structural equation modeling was used to build a model describing relationships among physical and psychosocial secondary health conditions, pain, functional impairments, chronic medical conditions, and age.Results: In total, 12 individual symptom or function domains (latent factors) were identified, grouped into 5 broader factors. Increasing age was associated with greater rates of physical and health problems and poorer function, and showed curvilinear relationships with pain and psychosocial difficulties.Discussion: These data support a biopsychosocial model of secondary health conditions in adults aging with physical disability and suggest a five-factor approach for conceptualizing secondary conditions and their impact. Results also emphasize the importance of age in symptom severity and impact.