Hospital readmission of older adults is consistently associated with impairment of physical functioning, though clinical practice guidelines to address this impairment are lacking, according to a study published Nov. 4 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Here are three takeaways from the study:
- Academic researchers across the U.S. reviewed 17 studies conducted between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2022, that assessed patient physical function during reported readmissions within 90 days of discharge. The studies represented 80,008 participants 50 years or older.
- Deconditioning occurs when muscles weaken during a hospital admission from staying in bed. This process contributes to a loss of physical functioning and can place older adults at a greater risk of readmission, according to a Jan. 22 news release from the University of Connecticut.
- "Routine assessment of physical function during hospitalization can improve risk stratification and may support successful care transitions, particularly in older adults," study authors wrote.
Access the full study here.