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The desire to find a method for predicting future functional decline in older patients who experience acute myocardial infarctions (MIs) led investigators to conduct this multicenter study. They identified 2587 older patients (mean age, 81) and conducted extensive clinical and demographic assessments during hospitalization for MI, including the Timed “Up and Go” (TUG) test — a timed test of rising from a seated position, walking 3 m, turning, walking back, and sitting down. Impairment was classified as none (≤15 seconds), mild (>15 to ≤25 seconds), moderate (>25 seconds), or severe (unable to complete the test).
Thirty-one percent of patients had no impairment, 22% had mild impairment, 16% had moderate impairment, and 15% had severe impairme…