The Aging Process of WTC Responders: Assessment and Consequences of Frailty

Details

• Personal Author:
  Colicino E ; Hung W ; Ko F ; Lucchini RG ; Ornstein K ; Thanik E
• Description:
  Although the WTC general responder cohort (WTC-GRC) is aging (average age=56), the WTC Health Program (WTCHP) does not routinely collect data on aging-related syndromes. In particular, frailty is a syndrome characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse events including mortality, morbidity, disability, and hospitalizations. Therefore, the overarching aim of this study is to assess whether previous WTC exposure leads to premature age-related deterioration in physiological function. We will develop a WTC-specific Clinical Frailty Index (FI) based on clinically observable signs and symptoms of aging regularly examined within WTCHP surveillance. We will carry out analyses using the repository of WTC-GRC health monitoring data that has been collected at the Mount Sinai Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE) since 2002. Additionally, we will recruit individuals from the WTC-GRC who are followed at the Mount Sinai Clinical CCE to collect new measures of cognitive function, grip strength, weight loss, physical activity, exhaustion and walking speed, which will improve the accuracy of the WTC Clinical-FI. We will first establish a validated frailty cutoff for a WTC-specific Clinical-FI using newly collected measures of cognition, grip strength, walking speed, unintentional weight loss, physical activity, and exhaustion (Aim 1). We will assess the influence of WTC exposure severity on the development of frailty in WTC general responders (Aim 2) and the association of WTC exposure (and other potential risk factors) with frailty trajectories (Aim 3). In an exploratory Aim we will assess the influence of frailty on other age-related syndromes and key consequences. Identifying modifiable risk factors for premature aging has the potential to impact the entire WTCHP, which is an aging cohort and at higher risk for negative consequences. Our broader focus on aging and frailty serves as a paradigm shift in the WTCHP from exposure and trauma-related injury. Results of this study will be instrumental in improving the capacity of the WTCHP to monitor and care for aging responders through partnership with Geriatrics and Palliative Care programs at ISMMS, including the development of future intervention research on the effectiveness of specific multifactorial preventive programs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Aging Cohort Studies Emergency Responders Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Nervous System Occupational Health Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks
• Keywords:
  Age Factors Cognitive Function Cohort Studies First Responders Medical Monitoring Physiological Response Rescue Workers Surveillance World Trade Center WTC
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Final Cooperative Agreement Report
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-29
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068355
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U01-OH-012068, 2022 Sep; :1-29
• Contact Point Address:
  Katherine Ornstein, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl. New York, NY 10029
• Email:
  katherine.ornstein@mssm.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20200701
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20210630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6a107da8a234f1b562e67fcee8aa10df37a88472e4e50ff050b85afb84ded5067898c6fb1dfa456f9e3561519f9e9c6da1215dea7e717d4f291724becf7d3978
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219214/cdc_219214_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 635.67 KB ]