Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Nov 2007
The effect of co-morbidity on the rehabilitation process in elderly patients after hip fracture.
We conducted a prospective observational study involving patients older than 65 years admitted for rehabilitation to the Geriatric Department of a university hospital after surgical treatment of hip fracture. We assessed functional status before, during and at the end of rehabilitation and as a measure of success of rehabilitation we calculated the Montebello Rating Factor Score (MRFS). In an attempt to make this index more reflective of changes in rehabilitative status we revised it accordingly. ⋯ In the uinvariant analysis, cognitive status, length of stay in Geriatric Department and co-morbidity were found as significant predictors of rehabilitation success. In the linear regression only Severity Index (SI) of Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) was found as a statistically significant predictor of rehabilitation outcome. In our context, we found that only co-morbidity (as measured by CIRS) is the best predictor of rehabilitation outcome of elderly patients after surgical repair of hip fracture.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Nov 2007
Prognostic implications of hyponatremia in elderly hospitalized patients.
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte imbalance in elderly in-patients. We hypothesized that hyponatremia was independently associated with increased length of stay and loss of independence or death as measured by failure to return to previous residence. This cohort study measured the prognostic impact of hyponatremia in all patients admitted to two acute geriatric wards. ⋯ Only a larger drop in serum sodium was significantly associated with failure to return to previous residence (p<0.001). We conclude that hyponatremia in elderly in-patients is common. Drop in serum sodium during admission was strongly associated with increased length of stay and loss of independence.