Time course of mobility data of older adults following hospitalisation

Introduction

In recent years shorter hospital stays have shifted care needs of older adults into the home environment. Yet, little is known about health data of older adults after discharge. Especially mobility seems to be a key parameter for managing daily life at home.

This study aims to identify trajectories of mobility among older adults after hospitalisation.

Methods

The goal is to recruit 160 older patients (age 70+), from four clinical units. Data collection starts in the hospital (T0). After discharge, two home visits are conducted after three (T1) and six months (T2), respectively. At all three time points, a range of health data are collected, including key parameters of mobility: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up and Go-test (TUG), health-related quality of life (VAS of the EQ5D) and life space (Life-Space-Assessment).

Descriptive analyses were conducted to capture preliminary patterns of mobility.

Results

To date 59 participants (80±5 years; 34 female, 25 male) have been included in the study, 40 completed T1, and 20 participants completed T2. For the 20 participants who completed T2 SPPB scores increased from 5 (iqr: 4-7) at T0, to 9 (iqr: 6-10) at T1 and 11 (iqr: 4-11) at T2. The TUG improved from 20.6s (iqr:14.0s-28.0s) at T0 to 11s (iqr: 9s-14s) and 10.5s (iqr: 9.3s-16.8s). Health-related quality of life changed from 57±22 to 66±23 to 62±23, and life space decreased from 59.8±27.4 to 55.9±26.6 to 52.1±30.0.

Conclusion

After discharge from the hospital, mobility trajectories appear to be heterogeneous, but show an overall slight improvement. As a next step, these mobility data will be combined with physical activity data to provide cues for the development of lifestyle intervention for older adults in their home environment.