Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes in a National Sample of Medicare Beneficiaries With Hip Fracture

Effects of patient characteristics on rehabilitation outcomes (functional status at discharge, discharged home) were assessed in a retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries admitted to Medicare-certified inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) following hospitalization for hip fracture in 2009 (N = 34,984). Hierarchical regression analysis showed significantly higher functional status at discharge (p < .0001) for patients with these characteristics: White or Asian, younger, female, lived alone, higher functional status at admission, fewer comorbidities, no tier comorbidities, and longer IRF length of stay (LOS). Likelihood of discharged home was higher for patients with these characteristics: Hispanic (1.49 [1.32, 1.68]), Asian (1.35 [1.04, 1.74]), or Black (1.28 [1.12, 1.47]); younger (0.96 [0.96, 0.96]); female (1.14 [1.08, 1.20]); lived with others (2.12 [2.01, 2.23]); higher functional status at admission (1.06 [1.06, 1.06]); fewer comorbidities, no tier comorbidities; and longer LOS (1.61 [1.56, 1.67]). Functional status at admission, tier comorbidities, and race/ethnicity contributed the most to variance in functional status at discharge. Living with others contributed the most to variance in discharged home.