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OBJECTIVES: Delirium is common during acute infection in older patients and is associated with functional decline. Geriatric rehabilitation (GR) can help older patients to return to their premorbid functional level. It is unknown whether delirium affects GR outcomes in patients with acute infection. We evaluated whether delirium affects trajectories of activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QoL) recovery in GR after COVID-19 infection. DESIGN: This study was part of the EU-COGER study, a multicenter cohort study conducted between October 2020 and October 2021. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited after COVID-19 infection from 59 GR centers in 10 European countries. METHODS: Data were collected at GR admission, discharge, and at the 6-week and 6-month follow-ups. Trajectories of ADL [using the Barthel index (BI)] and QoL [using the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L)] recovery were examined using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Of the 723 patients included (mean age 75.5 ± 9.9 years; 52.4% male), 28.9% had delirium before or during GR admission. Participants with delirium recovered in ADL at approximately the same rate as those without (linear slope effect = -0.13, SE 0.16, P = .427) up to an estimated BI score of 16.1 at 6 months. Similarly, participants with delirium recovered in QoL at approximately the same rate as those without (linear slope effect = -0.017, SE 0.015, P = .248), up to an estimated EQ-5D-5L score of 0.8 at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Presence of delirium during the acute phase of infection or subsequent GR did not influence the recovery trajectory of ADL functioning and QoL.
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Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is associated with poor physical performance; little is known about its impact on geriatric rehabilitation. We found a positive non-linear relationship between 25(OH)D and functional gain, stronger in levels < 16 ng/ml (below the cutoff for "deficiency"). An early 25(OH)D dosage may be advisable for this population. INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is highly prevalent in older people, and it is associated with poor muscular strength and physical performance. Its impact on functional outcomes during geriatric rehabilitation has been poorly studied. We aim to analyze the association between 25(OH)D and functional recovery in geriatric rehabilitation units. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multi-center cohort study including patients ≥ 65 years old admitted to 3 geriatric rehabilitation units in Italy and Spain, after orthopedic events or stroke. Outcomes were absolute functional gain (AFG, discharge-admission Barthel index) and ability to walk (AW) at 3 months after admission. The association between 25(OH)D quartiles (Q1-Q2-Q3-Q4) and outcomes was explored using linear or logistic regression models. RESULTS: We included 420 patients (mean age = 81.2 years [SD = 7.7], 66.4% females, mean 25(OH)D concentration = 13.5 ng/ml [SD = 8.7]) (to convert to nmol/l multiply by 2.496). A non-linear relationship between 25(OH)D and AFG was found, with a stronger association for 25(OH)D levels < 16 ng/ml. Compared to Q1 (25(OH)D ≤ 6 ng/ml), participants in Q3 (25(OH)D 11.5-18.2 ng/ml) had the best AFG and AW (mean AFG [SD], Q1 = 28.9 [27.8], Q2 = 32.5 [23.5], Q3 = 43.1 [21.9], Q4 = 34.5 [29.3], R2 = 7.3%; AW, Q1-Q2 = 80%, Q3 = 91%, Q4 = 86%). Regression models adjusted for potential confounders confirmed these results (AGF Q2, ß = 2.614, p = 0.49; Q3, ß = 9.723, p < 0.01; Q4, ß = 4.406, p = 0.22; AW Q2, OR [95% CI] = 1.84 [0.67-5.33]; Q3, OR [95% CI] = 4.01 [1.35-13.48]; Q4, OR [95% CI] = 2.18 [0.81-6.21]). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, 25(OH)D concentration showed a positive association with functional outcomes at 3 months. The association is stronger below the usual cutoff for "deficiency." Dosage of 25(OH)D concentration may help identify geriatric rehabilitation patients at risk for a worse functional recovery.