Validation of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale in a Geriatric Residential Population

Patricia A. Parmelee, Paul D. Thuras, Ira R. Katz, M. Powell Lawton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

900 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) in a geriatric institutional population by examining its associations with mortality, hospitalization, medication usage, laboratory findings and disability. DESIGN: A validation of the CIRS using self‐ and physician‐report surveys, with archival data drawn from medical charts and facility records. SETTING: Long‐term care facility with skilled nursing and congregate apartments. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred thirty‐nine facility residents selected on the basis of completeness of self‐report data and physician ratings. PRIMARY MEASURES: Composite measures of illness severity and comorbidity, based on physicians' CIRS ratings; time to death or acute hospitalization after assessment; medication use, drawn from pharmacy records; medical chart data on laboratory tests; self‐reported functional disability. RESULTS: CIRS illness severity and comorbidity indices, as well as individual CIRS items, were significantly associated with mortality, acute hospitalization, medication usage, laboratory test results, and functional disability. The CIRS showed good divergent validity vis a vis functional disability in predicting mortality and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The CIRS appears to be a valid indicator of health status among frail older institution residents. The illness severity and comorbidity composites performed equally well in predicting longitudinal outcomes. Item‐level analyses suggest that the CIRS may be useful in developing differential illness profiles associated with mortality, hospitalization, and disability. 1995 The American Geriatrics Society

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)130-137
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society
Volume43
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1995

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Validation of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale in a Geriatric Residential Population'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this