Hip fracture has profound psychosocial impacts: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture is a common and serious traumatic injury for older adults characterised by poor outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence about the psychosocial impact of hip fracture on the people who sustain these injuries. METHODS: Five databases were searched for qualitative studies reporting on the psychosocial impact of hip fracture, supplemented by reference list checking and citation tracking. Data were synthesised inductively and confidence in findings reported using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach, taking account of methodological quality, coherence, relevance and adequacy. RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies were included. Data were collected during the peri-operative period to >12 months post fracture from 919 participants with hip fracture (median age > 70 years in all but 3 studies), 130 carers and 297 clinicians. Hip fracture is a life altering event characterised by a sense of loss, prolonged negative emotions and fear of the future, exacerbated by negative attitudes of family, friends and clinicians. For some people after hip fracture there is, with time, acceptance of a new reality of not being able to do all the things they used to do. There was moderate to high confidence in these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Hip fracture is a life altering event. Many people experience profound and prolonged psychosocial distress following a hip fracture, within a context of negative societal attitudes. Assessment and management of psychosocial distress during rehabilitation may improve outcomes for people after hip fracture.

Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the 'Outdoor' mobility intervention for older adults after hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: A high proportion of patients do not regain outdoor mobility after hip fracture. Rehabilitation explicitly targeting outdoor mobility is needed to enable these older adults to recover activities which they value most. The overarching aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial which aims to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of an intervention designed to enable recovery of outdoor mobility among older adults after hip fracture (the OUTDOOR intervention). METHODS: This is a protocol for a multi-centre pragmatic parallel group (allocation ratio 1:1) randomised controlled assessor-blinded feasibility trial. Adults aged 60 years or more, admitted to hospital from- and planned discharge to- home, with self-reported outdoor mobility in the three-months pre-fracture, surgically treated for hip fracture, and who are able to consent and participate, are eligible. Individuals who require two or more people to support mobility on discharge will be excluded. Screening and consent (or consent to contact) will take place in hospital. Baseline assessment and randomisation will follow discharge from hospital. Participants will then receive usual care (delivered by physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or therapy assistants), or usual care plus the OUTDOOR intervention. The OUTDOOR intervention includes a goal-orientated outdoor mobility programme (supported by up to six in-person visits), therapist-led motivational dialogue (supported by up to four telephone calls), supported by a past-patient led video where recovery experiences are shared, and support to transition to independent ongoing recovery. Therapists delivering the OUTDOOR intervention (distinct from those supporting usual care) will receive training in motivational interviewing and behaviour change techniques. Baseline demographics will be collected. Patient reported outcome measures including health related quality of life, activities of daily living, pain, community mobility, falls related self-efficacy, resource use, readmissions, and mortality will be collected at baseline, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, and 6-months (for those enrolled early in the trial) post-randomisation. Exercise adherence (6- and 12- weeks) and intervention acceptability (12-weeks) will be collected. A subset of 20 participants will also support accelerometery data collection for 10 days at each time point. DISSEMINATION: The trial findings will be disseminated to patients and the public, health professionals and researchers through publications, presentations and social media channels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered at ISRCTN16147125. PROTOCOL VERSION: 3.0.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the complete rehabilitation journey of hip fracture patients in Italy: From surgical admission to rehabilitation facility discharge.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reorganization of health services, potentially affecting the quality of care for major public health concerns such as proximal femoral fractures. This study aimed to investigate potential changes in the timing of various steps in the patient journey after a hip fracture during the pandemic in Piedmont, a region in Northern Italy. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the discharge records of patients aged 65 or older who were admitted for hip surgery following a femur fracture in 2019 and 2020. The study examined four-time steps: duration from hospital admission to surgery, length of hospital stay, interval between hospital discharge and admission to the rehabilitation facility, and duration of stay at the rehabilitation facility. To mitigate biases linked to sex and age factors, groups well-balanced across 2019 and 2020 were created using propensity score estimation. RESULTS: The dataset consisted of two cohorts of 583 patients each for the years 2019 and 2020. The average duration from admission to surgery was approximately 1.9 days in both years, with 75% of patients undergoing surgery within 2 days of hospital admission. The average hospital stay reduced from 13.49 days in 2019 to 11.34 days in 2020. The gap between hospital discharge and admission to rehabilitation was approximately 10-12 days, and the average duration of stay at the rehabilitation facility was about 31.6 days. DISCUSSION: The study indicates that healthcare systems can exhibit resilience and adaptability, even during a global pandemic, to ensure high-quality and safe standards of care. However, further long-term studies are needed to fully understand the pandemic's impact on primary health outcomes following hip replacement surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. The potential role of telemedicine in reducing the time between steps also warrants further investigation.

Strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care following hip fracture in frail older adults: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Although surgery is the gold standard following a hip fracture, the potential for rehabilitation and survival rates are low in frail older patients. Some patients may derive more benefit from palliative care. The objectives of this review were to identify the available strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care for frail patients with hip fractures and to synthetise their level of support. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the scientific and grey literature, searching seven databases and websites of associations. We included all study designs, expert opinion articles and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Data were synthetised according to the Approach to Patient with Limited Life Expectancy and Hip Fracture framework. The number of research items and their level of evidence were tabulated for each of the recommended strategies. RESULTS: Of the 10 591 items identified, 34 were eligible. The majority of included articles were original research studies (n = 15). Half of the articles and CPGs focused on intervention categories (55%) such as goals of care discussion and comfort care, followed by factors to consider in the end-of-life decision-making process (25%) and prognosis assessments (20%), mainly through the estimation of life expectancy. The level of evidence for these strategies remains low, given the limited number of prospective studies supporting them. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review highlighted that end-of-life care in frail older patients with a hip fracture remains understudied. The strategies identified could be prioritised for future research to improve the well-being of the target population while promoting sustainable resource management.

Can Older Adult Patients with Hip Fractures Have Their Discharge Destination Predicted by Physical Performance Measures?

Background and Objectives: The majority of patients who undergo hip fracture surgery do not recover their former level of physical function; hence, it is essential to establish a specific rehabilitation strategy for maximal functional recovery of patients after a hip fracture. Knowing which indicators of physical function in hip fracture patients have a significant impact on the decision regarding the place or timing of discharge would make it possible to plan and prepare for discharge as soon as possible. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical function and discharge destination for older adult patients with hip fracture. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 150 hip fracture patients (mean age 78.9 ± 10.6 years) between January 2019 and June 2021 were enrolled. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their discharge destination, either home or facility. Demographic and disease-related characteristic data were collected from the medical records. All the patients completed performance-based physical function tests including the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Koval's grade, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) at the start of rehabilitation and at discharge. A backward stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was then performed to determine the independent factors of the discharge destination. Results: The home discharge group had a significantly lower Koval's grade, lower TUG, higher BBS both at baseline and discharge, and younger age. Backward stepwise logistic binary regression analysis showed that TUG, BBS, and 10MWT at baseline and discharge were significant variables affecting the discharge destination after hip fracture. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that balance and gait in older adult patients with hip fractures are highly influential factors in the determining the discharge destination.

Rehabilitation after surgery for hip fracture - the impact of prompt, frequent and mobilisation-focused physiotherapy on discharge outcomes: an observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between three postoperative physiotherapy activities (time to first postoperative walk, activity on the day after surgery, and physiotherapy frequency), and the outcomes of hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination after hip fracture. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted on 437 hip fracture surgery patients aged ≥ 50 years across 36 participating hospitals from the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry Acute Rehabilitation Sprint Audit during June 2022. Study outcomes included hospital LOS and discharge destination. Generalised linear and logistic regressions were used respectively, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 437 patients, 62% were female, 56% were aged ≥ 85 years, 23% were previously living in a residential aged care facility, 48% usually walked with a gait aid, and 38% were cognitively impaired prior to their injury. The median acute and total LOS were 8 (IQR 5-13) and 20 (IQR 8-38) days. Approximately 71% (n = 179/251) of patients originally living in private residence returned home and 29% (n = 72/251) were discharged to a residential aged care facility. Previously mobile patients had a higher total LOS if they walked day 2-3 (10.3 days; 95% CI 3.2, 17.4) or transferred with a mechanical lifter or did not get out of bed day 1 (7.6 days; 95% CI 0.6, 14.6) compared to those who walked day 1 postoperatively. Previously mobile patients from private residence had a reduced odds of return to private residence if they walked day 2-3 (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.17, 0.87), day 4 + (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15, 0.96), or if they only sat, stood or stepped on the spot day 1 (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.13, 0.62) when compared to those who walked day 1 postoperatively. Among patients from private residence, each additional physiotherapy session per day was associated with a -2.2 (95% CI -3.3, -1.0) day shorter acute LOS, and an increased log odds of return to private residence (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.02, 3.02). CONCLUSION: Hip fracture patients who walked earlier, were more active day 1 postoperatively, and/or received a higher number of physiotherapy sessions were more likely to return home after a shorter LOS.

Characteristics and Effects of Home-Based Digital Health Interventions on Functional Outcomes in Older Patients With Hip Fractures After Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Digital health interventions (DHIs) have been used to improve postoperative functional ability in older patients with hip fractures. However, there is limited information on the characteristics of home-based DHIs, and controversy exists regarding their impact on functional outcomes in this population. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an overview of the characteristics and effects of home-based DHIs on functional outcomes in older patients with hip fractures after surgery. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Five electronic medical databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, and CINAHL) were searched up until January 3, 2023. We included clinical trials or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English involving home-based DHIs for postoperative care among older patients with hip fractures. Excluded studies involved patients not hospitalized, not discharged to home, not directly using DHIs, or with inaccessible full text. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022370550. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data (SP and NB). Disagreements were resolved through discussion and agreement with the third author (KP). Home-based DHIs were characterized in terms of purpose and content, mode of delivery, and health care provider. Functional outcomes assessed included Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Summary measures were calculated using mean differences with 95% CIs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk-of-Bias 2 assessment tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for non-RCTs. The quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). RESULTS: Of 2125 identified studies, 16 were included in the systematic review, involving 1467 participants. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis (4 for TUG, 4 for SPPB, and 2 for FIM). Home-based DHIs predominantly involved communication and feedback, education, and telerehabilitation. Telephone calls were the most common mode of delivery, followed by web-based software and mobile apps. Physical therapists were the main health care providers. The meta-analysis showed that home-based DHIs improved functional outcomes compared with usual care, with decreased TUG scores (mean difference=-7.89; 95% CI -10.34 to -5.45; P<.001), significantly increased SPPB scores (mean difference=1.11; 95% CI 0.51-1.72; P<.001), and increased FIM scores (mean difference=7.98; 95% CI 5.73-10.24; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Home-based DHIs that integrate communication and feedback, education, and telerehabilitation have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing functional outcomes among older patients recovering from hip fractures after surgery. These interventions are commonly administered by physical therapists, who play a crucial role in facilitating and guiding the rehabilitation process. However, while the existing evidence supports the efficacy of such interventions, further research is needed to enhance our understanding and optimize the implementation of home-based DHIs for this specific population.

Gait dynamic stability evaluation in patients undergoing hip joint fractures - tools to measure rehabilitation effectiveness.

A hip joint fracture includes a break in the thigh (femur) or coxa bone near the pelvis. During fracture healing, stability and weight bearing by the affected limb are key indicators to measure patients' improvement. Conventionally, the rehabilitation effectiveness is monitored through clinical examinations, patients' feedback, and few studies also reported instrumented gait evaluations. A gap remains there to numerically quantify the recovery in patients' stability and weight bearing in response to rehabilitation therapies. This study introduces Nyquist and Bode (N&B) methods to analyse the instrumented gait signals further and evaluate gait stability in hip fracture patients during weight loading and unloading transitions. The centre of pressure (CoP) data was recorded using force plates for conditions: coxa hip fracture (HC), femur hip fracture (HF), and normal hip joint (NH). The time rate of CoP signals illustrated two major impulses during the loading and unloading phases which were modelled in time and frequency domains. The frequency models were further analysed by applying N&B methods and stability margins were computed for both impaired and healthy conditions. Results illustrated a significant decrease (Kruskal-Wallis's test, p < 0.001) in the intralimb walking stability of both fracture conditions. Further, Spearman's correlation between CoP velocities of fractured and intact limbs illustrated significant interlimb dependencies to maintain walking stability (p < 0.001) during weight loading and unloading transitions. Overall, the HF impairment illustrated the least intralimb walking stability and relatively greater interlimb dependencies. Clinically, these methods and findings are important to measure the recovery in patients undergoing rehabilitation after a hip joint or other lower limb impairments.

Allied health assistant management of people with hip fracture is feasible and may improve patient adherence to hip fracture mobilisation guidelines: a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the feasibility of allied health assistant (AHA) management of people with hip fracture an acute hospital. DESIGN: Assessor-blind, parallel, feasibility randomised controlled trial with qualitative component. SETTING: Acute orthopaedic ward. PARTICIPANTS: People with surgically-managed hip fracture, who walked independently pre-fracture and had no cognitive impairment. INTERVENTIONS: Rehabilitation from an AHA, under the supervision of a physiotherapist, compared with rehabilitation from a physiotherapist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility was evaluated according to focus areas of demand, acceptability, practicality and implementation. Secondary outcomes included estimates of effect of adherence to hip fracture mobilisation guidelines, discharge destination, 30-day readmission, functional activity, and length of stay. RESULTS: Fifty people were allocated to receive rehabilitation from an AHA (n = 25) or physiotherapist (n = 25). AHA rehabilitation had high demand with 60% of eligible participants recruited. Satisfaction with AHA rehabilitation was comparable with physiotherapy rehabilitation (acceptability). The AHA group received an average of 11 min (95% CI 4 to 19) more therapy per day than the physiotherapy group (implementation). The AHA group may have had lower cost of acute care (MD -$3 808 95% CI -7 651 to 35) and adverse events were comparable between groups (practicality). The AHA group may have been 22% (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.61) more likely to walk on any day and may have had a shorter length of stay (MD -0.8 days, 95% CI -2.3 to 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: AHA management of patients with hip fracture was feasible and may improve adherence to mobilisation guidelines and reduce cost of care and length of stay. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12620000877987. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.

Impact of physiotherapy access on health-related quality of life following hip fracture: an observational study on 30 752 hip fractures from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register 2014-2018.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of patients receiving private community physiotherapy (PT) the first year after a hip fracture. Second, to determine whether utilisation of PT could improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: In an observational cohort study, 30 752 hip fractures from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register were linked with data from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements Database. Association between covariates and utilisation of PT in the first year after fracture, the association between covariates and EQ-5D index score and the probability of experiencing 'no problems' in the five dimensions of the EQ-5D were assessed with multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Median age was 81 years, and 68.4% were females. Most patients with hip fracture (57.7%) were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists classes 3-5, lived alone (52.4%), and had a low or medium level of education (85.7%). In the first year after injury, 10 838 of 30 752 patients with hip fracture (35.2%) received PT. Lower socioeconomic status (measured by income and level of education), male sex, increasing comorbidity, presence of cognitive impairment and increasing age led to a lower probability of receiving postoperative PT. Among those who used PT, EQ-5D index score was 0.061 points (p<0.001) higher than those who did not. Correspondingly, the probability of having 'no problems' in three of the five dimensions of EQ-5D was greater. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of the patients with hip fracture had access to private PT the first year after injury. This may indicate a shortcoming in the provision of beneficial post-surgery rehabilitative care reducing post-treatment HRQoL. The findings underscore the need for healthcare policies that address disparities in PT access, particularly for elderly patients, those with comorbidities and reduced health, and those with lower socioeconomic status.

Hypnotic drug use and rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute geriatric hip fracture patients: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of hypnotic drugs is common in the elderly and is associated with negative health outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of hypnotic drug usage amongst hip fracture patients undergoing a rehabilitation program and investigate any potential associations between hypnotic drug use and rehabilitation outcomes in a post-acute care setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 440 geriatric hip fracture patients was conducted from 1/1/2019 to 12/2021 in a geriatric rehabilitation center. The main outcome measures were the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the motor FIM effectiveness and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-eight (51.7 %) patients out of the entire cohort (440)), were prescribed hypnotic drugs. These patients exhibited a significantly lower rate of diabetes (p = 0.025), a higher rate of depression (p = 0.003), and lower albumin levels (p = 0.023) upon admission to rehabilitation in comparison to untreated patients. No significant differences were observed between the two patient groups in functional rehabilitation outcomes or LOS. Moreover, no correlation was established between the hypnotic drug burden during rehabilitation and the outcome measures. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between patients treated with hypnotic drugs on admission and those who were prescribed these drugs during rehabilitation. The type of hypnotic drug did not affect these results. CONCLUSION: The use of hypnotic drugs by elderly individuals undergoing a rehabilitation program after a hip fracture is unlikely to have an adverse impact on their short-term rehabilitation outcomes. Consequently, there may not be an immediate necessity to discontinue these drugs upon admission. Nevertheless, the use of hypnotic drugs should be approached with caution and minimized whenever possible due to an increased fall risk and other adverse effects.

Implementation of supplemental physiotherapy following hip fracture surgery: a protocol for the process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patient outcomes following low-trauma hip fracture are suboptimal resulting in increased healthcare costs and poor functional outcomes at 1 year. Providing early and intensive in-hospital physiotherapy could help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs following hip fracture surgery. The HIP fracture Supplemental Therapy to Enhance Recovery (HIPSTER) trial will compare usual care physiotherapy to intensive in-hospital physiotherapy for patients following hip fracture surgery. The complex environments in which the intervention is implemented present unique contextual challenges that may impact intervention effectiveness. This study aims to complete a process evaluation to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation and explore the patient, carer and clinician experience of intensive therapy following hip fracture surgery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The process evaluation is embedded within a two-arm randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial recruiting 620 participants from eight Australian hospitals who have had surgery for a hip fracture sustained via a low-trauma injury. A theory-based mixed method process evaluation will be completed in tandem with the HIPSTER trial. Patient and carer semi-structured interviews will be completed at 6 weeks following hip fracture surgery. The clinician experience will be explored through online surveys completed pre- and post-implementation of intensive therapy and mapped to domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Translation and behaviour change success will be assessed using the Reach Effectiveness-Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework and a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. These data will assist with the development of an Implementation Toolkit aiding future translation into practice. DISCUSSION: The embedded process evaluation will help understand the interplay between the implementation context and the intensive therapy intervention following surgery for low-trauma hip fracture. Understanding these mechanisms, if effective, will assist with transferability into other contexts and wider translation into practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN 12622001442796.

Nutritional status as independent prognostic factor of outcome and mortality until five years after hip fracture: a comprehensive prospective study.

We determined the prognostic value of nutritional status for outcome after hip fracture. Nutritional status was a strong independent prognostic factor for clinical outcome and 5-year mortality. Physical function showed incomplete recovery. Elderly care should focus on prevention already before hip fracture. PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic value of nutritional status in hip fracture patients for multiple clinical and functional outcomes over 6 months, and for new fractures and survival over 5 years post-fracture. METHODS: We included 152 well-characterized subjects (age 55+ years) with a hip fracture from a previously published randomized controlled trial. Nutritional status was appraised using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Multivariable linear, logistic and Cox regression models were fitted, adjusted for age, sex, ASA score, group and additional prognostic covariates identified in backward regression models. RESULTS: At baseline, impaired nutritional status was significantly associated with physical disability, depression, impaired cognition and lower quality of life. Prospective analyses showed that impaired baseline nutritional status was an independent prognostic factor for postoperative complications (OR 2.00, 95%CI 1.01-3.98, p = 0.047), discharge location from hospital (home vs. rehabilitation clinic, OR 0.41, 95%CI 0.18-0.98, p = 0.044), hospital readmission (OR 4.59, 95%CI 1.70-12.4, p = 0.003) and total length of hospital stay (HR of being discharged: 0.63, 96%CI 0.44-0.89, p = 0.008), as well as for 5-year mortality (HR 3.94, 95%CI 1.53-10.2, p = 0.005), but not for risk of new fractures (5y-HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.34-2.24, p = 0.769). Curves of physical disability over time showed that the three nutritional status categories followed almost parallel trajectories from baseline until 6 months after hip fracture, without complete recovery and even with further deterioration in malnourished subjects from 3 to 6 months post-fracture. CONCLUSION: As baselline nutritional status is a strong independent prognostic factor for clinical outcome after hip fracture, affecting even five-year survival, elderly health care should focus on prevention and identification of at-risk individuals already before hip fracture.

Association between additional weekend rehabilitation and functional outcomes in patients with hip fractures: does age affect the effectiveness of weekend rehabilitation?

PURPOSE: Rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery is crucial for improving physical function. Additional rehabilitation over the weekend or after working hours is reportedly associated with improved physical function; however, this may not apply to an aging population, including patients aged > 90 years. This study aimed to investigate the association between additional weekend rehabilitation and functional outcomes in different age groups. METHODS: This study analyzed a cohort of patients aged ≥ 60 years who had hip fractures and were operated on from 2010 to 2018. Data were extracted from a nationwide multicentre database. Functional outcomes at discharge were compared between patients who underwent rehabilitation on weekdays only and those who underwent rehabilitation on both weekdays and weekends. The patient groups were selected using propensity score matching analysis. Furthermore, a subgroup-analysis was conducted on patients in their 60 s, 70 s, 80 s, and 90 s. RESULTS: A total of 390,713 patients underwent surgery during the study period. After matching, each group comprised 129,583 pairs of patients. Patients who underwent weekend rehabilitation exhibited improved physical function in transferring, walking, and stair climbing at discharge, as compared with patients who did not (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.17 [1.15-1.19], 1.17 [1.15-1.2], and 1.06 [1.03-1.08], respectively). In subgroup analysis, except for stair climbing, the positive association between weekend rehabilitation and patient function was observed across all age groups. CONCLUSION: Weekend rehabilitation was significantly associated with improved physical function. Given the limited healthcare resources, high-demand activities such as stair climbing may be reserved for younger age groups to optimise rehabilitation therapy.

Association between Sarcopenia and Balance in Patients Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation after Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function and is associated with advancing age. This condition has been suggested as a factor that negatively influences the functional outcomes of patients with hip fractures. However, the association between sarcopenia and balance impairment in patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation after hip fractures remains unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to investigate the impact of sarcopenia on balance outcomes in patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation following hip fractures. Materials and Methods: Baseline sarcopenia was diagnosed using skeletal muscle mass index and handgrip strength, with cut-off values recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. The primary outcome was balance, which was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) at the time of discharge. A multiple linear regression model analyzed the association between sarcopenia and balance. The model was adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and cognitive function. Results: Among the 62 patients (mean age: 78.2; sex: 75.8% women), 24.2% had sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia had significantly lower BBS scores than did those without sarcopenia (41 vs. 49 points, p = 0.004). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline sarcopenia was independently associated with BBS scores at discharge (ß = -0.282, p = 0.038). Conclusions: Following inpatient rehabilitation, patients with baseline sarcopenia had inferior balance outcomes than did those without sarcopenia at discharge. Sarcopenia should be assessed on admission to consider and provide additional care for those with a higher risk of poor functional outcomes. More studies are needed to investigate the association between sarcopenia and functional outcomes, examine the impact of sarcopenia treatment on these outcomes, and reduce the risk of recurrent falls and fractures in patients with hip fractures.

Association between patient activation level and functional outcomes in older adults with hip fractures.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures can significantly impact older adults' mobility and function. Effective rehabilitation is crucial to help them regain independence and quality of life. However, little is known about the association between patient activation and hip fracture rehabilitation. This study aims to assess the association between the PAM-13 scores and the level of physical function, mobility, and activities of daily living in older adults following a hip fracture rehabilitation program. METHOD: An exploratory outcome study from a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge clinical controlled trial. Two hundred thirty-nine patients were classified into four Patient Activation Measure-Levels (PAM-13) according to their PAM-13 scores, reflecting their confidence and preparedness to manage their health. Level 1 represents the lowest level of confidence. The patient's mobility, function, and daily activities were evaluated at discharge and after 12 and 24 weeks. RESULTS: The cohort had a median age of 78; 67% were female, and 50% lived alone. There were no significant differences in demographics between the PAM-Levels. PAM-Level 1 patients had longer hospital stays and lower mobility scores than PAM-Level 4 patients. However, all patients improved over time, and higher initial PAM levels resulted in better outcomes. PAM-Level 1 patients improved in Time Up and Go score from a median score of 54 seconds to 14 seconds at 24 weeks, while PAM-Level 4 patients improved from 26 to 9 seconds. CONCLUSION: Our study found an association between PAM levels and functional outcomes in hip fracture rehabilitation. Patients with higher activation levels had better mobility and functional outcomes.

Prediction of walking speed one year following hip fracture based on pre-fracture assessments of mobility and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Older people with hip fracture are often medically frail, and many do not regain their walking ability and level of physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pre-fracture recalled mobility, fear of falling, physical activity, walking habits and walking speed one year after hip fracture. METHODS: The study had a longitudinal design. Measurements were performed 3-5 days postoperatively (baseline) and at one year after the hip fracture. The measurements at baseline were all subjective outcome measures recalled from pre-fracture: The New Mobility Scale (NMS), the 'Walking Habits' questionnaire, The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale, Fear of Falling International (FES-I) and demographic variables. At one year 4-meter walking speed, which was a part of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was assessed. RESULTS: At baseline 207 participants were included and 151 were assessed after one year. Their age was mean (SD) 82.7 (8.3) years (range 65-99 years). Those with the fastest walking speed at one year had a pre-fracture habit of regular walks with a duration of ≥ 30 min and/or a frequency of regular walks of 5-7 days a week. Age (p =.020), number of comorbidities (p <.001), recalled NMS (p <.001), and recalled UCLA Activity Scale (p =.007) were identified as predictors of walking speed at one year. The total model explained 54% of the variance in walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Duration and frequency of regular walks before the hip fracture play a role in walking speed recovery one year following the fracture. Subjective outcome measures of mobility and physical activity, recalled from pre-fracture can predict walking speed at one year. They are gentle on the old and medically frail patients in the acute phase after hip fracture, as well as clinically less time consuming.

Predictive Model of Recovery to Prefracture Activities-of-Daily-Living Status One Year after Fragility Hip Fracture.

Background and Objectives: Achieving prefracture functional status is a critical objective following a hip fracture, yet fewer than half of patients reach this milestone. The adoption of tools for assessing functional outcomes is increasingly recognized as essential for evaluating recovery following treatment for fragility hip fractures. We developed multivariable clinical prediction criteria to estimate the likelihood of patients regaining their prefracture activities-of-daily-living (ADL) status one year after sustaining a fragility hip fracture. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients treated for fragility hip fractures at a university-affiliated tertiary care center between February 2017 and April 2019 served as the basis for developing and internally validating the clinical prediction criteria. We applied a multivariable fractional polynomial method to integrate several continuous predictors into a binary logistic regression model. Results: The study included 421 patients, 324 (77%) of whom reported regaining their prefracture activities-of-daily-living level one year after experiencing fragility hip fractures. Significant predictors, such as the prefracture Barthel index, EQ-VAS score, and treatment modality, were incorporated into the predictive model. The model demonstrated excellent discriminative power (AuROC of 0.86 [95% CI 0.82-0.91]) and satisfactory calibration. Conclusions: The predictive model has significant discriminative ability with good calibration and provides clinicians with a means to forecast the recovery trajectories of individual patients one year after a fragility hip fracture, which could be useful because prompt clinical decision-making is aided by this information. Patients and caregivers can also be counseled and encouraged to follow up with the medical activities and interventions deemed essential by doctors who used the prediction tool. Access to the model is provided through a web application. External validation is warranted in order to prove its applicability and generalizability.