Background/Purpose: To examine the effect of arthritis on upper-lower extremity (UE-LE) functional limitations and disability over 6-years of follow-up among American older adults.

Methods: Data are from a 6-year prospective cohort study of 5716 American older adults aged 65 years and older residing in the community from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS 2011-2016). Data on self-reported arthritis, socio-demographic variables, medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer or hip fracture), overall pain, activities of daily living (ADLs), body mass index (BMI), and UE-LE activities (able to put a heavy object or reach above the head, able to open a jar or grasp small objects, able to carry 20 or 10-pounds, able to walk 6 or 3-blocks, able to walk up 20 or 10-stairs, get down on knees, and able to bend over) were collected. UP-LE functional limitation was defined as limitation in one or more of the four activities for UE and one or more of the six activities for LE. ADL disability was defined as limitation in one or more of the six ADL activities. General estimation equation model was fitted to test the effect of arthritis on UE-LE disability over time. All variables were analyzed as time-dependent variable except gender, education and race/ethnicity. Analysis for any UE-LE functional limitations where performed among those who reported no limitations in UE-LE at baseline. Analysis for any ADL disability were performed among those who reported no ADL disability at baseline. Interaction effect between arthritis and race/ethnicity was performed.

Results: At baseline, 53% reported arthritis, 54.8% were female, 85.3% were Non-Hispanic White, 8% were Non-Hispanic Black, 7% were Hispanic, 17.8% reported UE functional limitations, 68.9% reported LE functional limitations, and 10% reported ADL disability. Participants with arthritis were at greater risk for any UE functional limitations [OR=1.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.44-2.06), any LE functional limitations (OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.17-1.83), and any ADL disability (OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.32-1.90) after controlling for all covariates. Hispanics with arthritis were at greater risk for any ADL disability (OR=2.84, 95% CI=1.34-6.01) compared with Non-Hispanic Whites.

Conclusion: American older adults with arthritis were at higher risk of developing upper and lower extremity functional limitations, and ADL disability than those without arthritis over 6-years of follow-up. Hispanic older adults were at higher risk of developing ADL disability than Non-Hispanic White older adults.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/arthritis-upper-lower-extremity-functional-limitations-and-disability-in-american-older-adults-findings-from-the-national-health-and-aging-trends-study-nhats/