The relationship between dementia score and ambulatory level after hip fracture in the elderly

Dementia or mental status has been considered a significant prognosticating factor for the outcome of hip fracture in the elderly; however, the relationship between dementia level and ambulatory level has not been investigated directly. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between ambulatory level and dementia level after hip fracture in the elderly. A retrospective study was performed of 162 hip fracture patients over 65 years old. We measured the dementia score (mini mental state test) of all patients and evaluated their ambulatory status (divided into three groups: dependent, partially dependent, and independent). We then investigated the relationship between ambulatory level and dementia level. Mean dementia score for each group was as follows: dependent group, 6.6 +/- 0.9; partially dependent group, 17.9 +/- 0.8; and independent group, 24.6 +/- 0.4 (+/- SE). There was a significant relationship between ambulatory level and dementia level (P< .0001).