Development of physical performance after acute hip fracture: an observational study in a regular clinical geriatric...

Hip fracture is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability in older people. The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess the development of physical performance in patients with hip fracture after surgery.

Prospective, observational study in a Swedish university hospital.

Assessment of 102 consecutive patients (65 females), with a mean age of 82 years (range 35-98) without specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. Seven physical functions were assessed using the following 4 measuring methods and 3 rating scales at baseline 7 to 10 days after surgery and follow-up after 4 months (F4): 10-m habitual walking speed (HWS), timed up and go (TUG), 30-second chair stand test (CST), handgrip strength (HGS), Berg balance scale (BBS), functional ambulation category (FAC), and general mobility.

The 47% dropout patients were significantly older and more often lived alone or in nursing homes and used indoor walking aids. At baseline, the mean HWS was 0.4/0.5 (females/males) m/s; TUG 53/30 s; CST 4/5 kg, and HGS 17.4/31.2 kg. The medians of BBS and FAC were 20/20 and 4/4, respectively. There were significant mean improvements at F4 for all 4 measured functions, except for HGS in males but for neither of the rating scales. There was a large heterogeneity in all assessed variables, both at baseline and regarding change at 4 months. Therefore, the mean/median results are depicted in figures, showing all individual results at baseline and F4, compared to reference values and discussed in relation to degree of improvement.

The observed large heterogeneity at baseline as well as F4 makes it essentially meaningless to report means and median data of functional assessment of patients with hip fracture. There is a strong need for individualization in both health analysis and how the treatment program is targeted, carried through, and evaluated over time in patients with hip fracture.