Association between the "Timed Up and Go Test" at transplant evaluation and outcomes after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

Studies have demonstrated the Timed Up and Go Test's (TUGT) ability to forecast postoperative outcomes for several surgical specialties. Evaluations of the TUGT for waitlist and posttransplant outcomes have yet to be examined in kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prognostic utility of the TUGT and its associations with waitlist and posttransplant outcomes for kidney transplant candidates.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Single-center, prospective study of 518 patients who performed TUGT during their transplant evaluation between 9/1/2013-11/30/2014. TUGT times were evaluated as a continuous variable or 3-level discrete categorical variable with TUGT times categorized as long (>9 seconds), average (8-9 seconds), or short (5-8 seconds).

RESULTS

Transplanted individuals had shorter TUGT times than those who remained on the waitlist (8.99 vs 9.79 seconds, P < 0.001). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression showed that after adjusting for age, there was no association between TUGT times and probability of waitlist removal (OR 0.997 [0.814-1.221]), prolonged length of stay posttransplant (OR 1.113 [0.958-1.306] for deceased donor, OR 0.983 [0.757-1.277] for living donor), and 30-day readmissions (OR 0.984 [0.845-1.146] for deceased donor, OR 1.254 [0.976-1.613] for living donor).

CONCLUSIONS

The TUGT was not associated with waitlist removal or prolonged hospitalization for kidney transplant candidates. Alternative assessments of global health, such as functional status or frailty, should be considered for evaluation of potential kidney transplant candidates.

A partnership in health education between a neighborhood school and a community hospital

This paper reports the results of a cooperative effort between a community teaching hospital and a neighborhood Intermediate School to promote health education in an urban setting. The liaison stemmed from the need to educate a large, multi-ethnic student population and, through it, the community. To this end, the administrative, teaching, and medical staffs of the school and hospital prepared a series of health education events designed to provide needed information. The subjects included: Mental Health, Urgent Care, Personal Hygiene, Nutrition, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse, Teenage Sexuality, Depression, Suicide, and Family Relationships. This paper describes the results of a student questionnaire designed to measure the effectiveness of one of the programs and provide a venue for student suggestions. These suggestions were incorporated into subsequent programs. This cost-free partnership was one of six programs chosen as being outstanding in the field of education in New York City. It was the recipient of the Council of Supervisors and Administrators Education Program Award for 1987, New York City.