Three measures of physical rehabilitation effectiveness in elderly patients: a prospective, longitudinal, comparative analysis

• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-015-0138-5
• Publication Date: 2015-10-29T12:09:26Z
• Authors: Dolores Sánchez-R...; Ramon Miralles; Josep M. Muniesa; Sergio Mojal; Anna Abadía-Escartín; Olga Vázquez-Ibar
• Keywords: Univariate analysis

Rehabilitation success is measured by instruments that assess performance of activities daily living. Guidelines on the use and choice these are lacking. The present study aimed to analyse prognostic indicators physical rehabilitation effectiveness in elderly patients according three impact indices.Prospective, longitudinal a post-acute care unit. included rehabilitation-eligible deconditioned in-patients prospectively admitted (n = 685, aged 83.2 ± 8.3 years, mean length stay 15 9.2 days).Premorbid health status variables (PHSV): age, sex, comorbidity (Charlson index), medical history (heart failure, pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular dementia), previous living situation pre-admission functional (premorbid Lawton Barthel indices). Admission (AHSV): main diagnoses, referral source, (Barthel-adm) cognitive function (Pfeiffer test), undernutrition dysphagia.Absolute gain (AFG, admission-to-discharge change), relative (RFG, achieved percentage potential gain) efficiency index (REI, AFG over stay). Univariate analysis considered parameters, along with PHSV AHSV. Multivariate logistic regression was performed for ≥20, RFG ≥35 % REI ≥ 0.50.Greater associated 14 variables, 8 (57.1 %) 6 AHSV (42.8 %); greater 9 3 (33.3 (66.6 4 (44.4 5 (55.5 %). Mean value 34.5 15.8 who complete recovery (RFG 100 %, n 189, 27.5 35.3 15.0 (p 0.593) remaining 311, 45.4 In multivariate analysis, only Barthel-adm related all indices.Both premorbid acute-process have REI, compared RFG. Although gives information about degree reduction dependence, it does not provide clinical post-rehabilitation (mean values did differ between without recovery). A future implication evaluating recommend corrected score, which less affected conditions, as optimum method maximum improvement achieved.