Identifying physical function indicators to predict health outcomes in older adults with multiple health issues
Official title: Functional Biomarkers for Prediction of Hospitalization, Long-Term Care Placement, and Mortality in Older Adults with Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity
Funded at Mgh Institute of Health Professions · NIH-10359920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how walking speed and hand strength can help predict hospital visits, nursing home stays, and life expectancy for older adults with multiple health issues, so we can better understand their needs and improve their care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mgh Institute of Health Professions NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $501,342 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AG070730-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10359920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing cardiometabolic multimorbidity, including conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have multiple chronic health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how physical function, specifically gait speed and hand-grip strength, can serve as reliable indicators for predicting hospitalizations, long-term care placement, and mortality in older adults with cardiometabolic multimorbidity. By focusing on these functional biomarkers, the study aims to improve risk assessment models that currently rely heavily on the presence of multiple diseases without considering physical capabilities. Participants will undergo simple tests to measure their physical function, which will be analyzed alongside their health outcomes to develop more accurate predictive models. The goal is to enhance clinical assessments and ultimately improve care for older adults facing complex health challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prediction and management of health outcomes for older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using physical function measures as predictive tools in older populations, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Mgh Institute of Health Professions
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gore, Shweta — Mgh Institute of Health Professions
- Study coordinator: Gore, Shweta
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.