Gender differences in functional outcome of elderly hip fracture patients.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether gender might affect functional outcome of hip fractured patients undergoing in-hospital rehabilitation. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review study comprising of 759 consecutive elderly patients suffering traumatic hip fracture. All patients underwent a standard orthogeriatric care of surgical hip repair and post-acute rehabilitation care. Functional outcome (female vs male gender) was assessed by motor and total Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) scores on discharge. Data was analyzed by t-tests χ(2) -test and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 574 (75.6%) out of all patients were females. There were no differences in admission FIM scores; however, male patients had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. FIM scores on discharge were higher in female patients (motor FIM, P=0.007; motor FIM gain, P=0.001; compared with males). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that female gender was independently associated with higher total FIM at discharge (ß coefficient=0.056, P=0.008), higher motor FIM at discharge (ß coefficient=0.071, P=0.007) and higher total FIM gain at discharge (ß coefficient=0.11, P=0.008). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that absolute discharge FIM scores of females are higher, compared with male patients. After adjusting for possible covariates, female gender still emerged as an independent predictor for higher FIM at discharge, suggesting that male gender should be considered as adversely affecting rehabilitation outcome of hip fracture male patients.

The impact of previous strokes on the rehabilitation of elderly patients sustaining a hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a previous stroke may affect the functional outcome gain of elderly patients undergoing rehabilitation for a hip fracture. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The division of geriatric medicine with rehabilitation wards at a university-affiliated referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with hip fractures (N=460) undergoing a standard rehabilitation course. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The functional outcome of previous stroke- and nonprevious stroke (NPS)-affected patients assessed by the FIM instrument at admission and discharge from the rehabilitation facility. Data were analyzed by t tests, Pearson correlation, chi-square tests, and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Both admission and discharge total FIM scores were significantly higher in NPS compared with previous stroke patients (63.53+/-19.89 vs 52.19+/-19.37, P<.001) and (84.23+/-24.93 vs 71.37+/-25.03, P=.001), respectively. However, changes in total FIM (20.70+/-11.68 vs 19.17+/-13.32, P=.38) and in motor FIM (19.84+/-10.63 vs 17.96+/-11.21, P=.23) at discharge were not statistically significant between the 2 groups. A linear regression analysis showed that a previous stroke was not predictive of a worse total FIM gain at discharge (P=.58). CONCLUSIONS: NPS hip fracture elderly patients show higher admission and discharge FIM scores compared with previous stroke patients. Nevertheless, both groups achieve similar FIM gains during rehabilitation period. A previous stroke should not be considered as adversely affecting the rehabilitation of such patients.

Admission albumin levels and functional outcome of elderly hip fracture patients: is it that important?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Low serum albumin level is considered a marker of poor health outcome in various medical conditions. A relationship between low albumin levels and poor functional outcome has been found in the elderly, lower albumin predicting a greater functional decline. The objective of this study was to evaluate to what extent admission albumin levels may affect the functional outcome of elderly hip fracture patients. METHODS: This retrospective chart review study was conducted in an orthogeriatric unit of a university-affiliated referral hospital. The participants were 449 elderly patients with hip fractures, admitted for a standard rehabilitation course. Functional outcome of patients with normo-albuminemia and hypo-albuminemia was assessed by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) at admission and discharge. Data were analyzed by t-test, Pearson's correlation, Chi-square test and Linear Regression. RESULTS: 38.8% of patients were hypoalbuminemic upon admission. These patients were older (p<0.001) and had lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (p=0.003), compared with normo- albuminemic patients. Discharge FIM scores were higher in normo-albuminemic compared with hypo-albuminemic patients (total FIM 86.1+/-23.9 and 77.0+/-26.4, respectively; p<0.001; motor-FIM 60.0+/-16.3 and 53.4+/-18.0, respectively; p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that total FIM at discharge was inversely associated with pre-fracture function (beta -0.13; p<0.001). A high MMSE score (beta 0.16; p<0.001), female gender (beta 0.05; p=0.02) and higher admission total FIM scores (beta 0.69; p<0.001) emerged as predictors of higher total FIM scores upon discharge. Albumin levels did not independently predict better total FIM scores upon discharge (beta -0.02; p=0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Normo-albuminemic patients present with better admission FIM scores and have higher discharge FIM scores. After controlling for possible confounders, albumin remains a non-significant predictor of higher discharge FIM scores. We suggest that low albumin levels should not be considered as adversely affecting the rehabilitation of elderly hip fracture patients.

Functional outcome of ischemic stroke: a comparative study of diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diabetes is associated with more ischemic strokes and diabetic patients have up to a three-fold increased risk for suffering a stroke, compared with non-diabetics. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether diabetes mellitus may also affect the functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke, undergoing post-acute care rehabilitation. METHODS: A retrospective charts analysis of consecutive older patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted for rehabilitation at a tertiary hospital with post-acute care geriatric rehabilitation wards. Functional outcome of diabetics and non-diabetics was assessed by the Functional Independence Measurement scale (FIM) at admission and discharge. Data were analysed by t-tests, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square test, as well as by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total number of 527 patients were admitted, of whom 39% were diabetics. Compared with non-diabetics, diabetic stroke patients were slightly younger (p = 0.0001) but had similar admission FIM scores. FIM gain parameters (total FIM gain, motor FIM gain, daily total and motor FIM gains) upon discharge were similar in both groups. A linear regression analysis showed that higher MMSE scores (beta = 0.08; p = 0.01) and higher admission total FIM scores (beta = 0.87; p < 0.001) predicted higher total FIM scores upon discharge. Diabetes mellitus was not interrelated, whatsoever, with better total FIM scores upon discharge (beta = -0.03; p = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that there is no difference in the functional outcome of diabetic and non-diabetic patients, presenting for rehabilitation after acute ischemic stroke. Diabetes should not be considered as adversely affecting rehabilitation of such patients.

Plasma homocysteine level and functional outcome of patients with ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible relationships between total plasma homocysteine level (tHcy) and functional outcome of stroke patients as evaluated by the FIM instrument. DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. SETTING: Inpatient stroke rehabilitation ward of a university-affiliated referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients (N=113) presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their tHcy levels (< or = 15 micromol/L, >15 micromol/L) and into 3 groups according to their FIM scores (low, < or =40; moderate, 41-80; high, >80). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The tHcy level was determined shortly after stroke onset by a high performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. Functional outcome was measured by the FIM instrument at admission and discharge. The tHcy level and FIM scores were obtained for all patients. Data outcomes were analyzed by t tests, 1-way analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U, and Fisher exact tests, as well as by the 2 ordered polytomous logistic regression model. RESULTS: The 2 tHcy groups were similar in demographic, stroke, and comorbidity characteristics, differing only by higher frequency of hypertension in those with a tHcy greater than 15 micromol/L (51.7% vs 80.8%, respectively, P=.01). Compared with patients who had tHcy levels at 15 micromol/L or lower and were discharged from rehabilitation being in the highest FIM score group (>80), higher tHcy levels were not associated with a discharge FIM score of less than 40 (odds ratio [OR]=.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-4.65; P=.77) or with a better functional outcome FIM score between 40 and 80 (OR=3.71; 95% CI, 0.73-18.99; P=.11). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that determination of tHcy level does not correlate with functional outcome in patients presenting for rehabilitation after acute ischemic stroke.

Further evidence of interrelation between homocysteine and hypertension in stroke patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: A high total plasma homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, but the evidence connecting plasma tHcy level with hypertension is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between plasma tHcy level and some common risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (recurrent stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia) in patients presenting with primary or recurrent acute ischemic strokes. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional chart analysis was conducted in a university-affiliated referral hospital. During an 18 month period we identified 113 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age 71.2), 25 of whom had a recurrent stroke. Plasma tHcy level, obtained 2-10 days after stroke onset, was determined by the high performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the independent relationship between each potential risk factor and tHcy level above or below the 75th percentile. RESULTS: Hypertension was more frequent among patients with plasma tHcy level above than below the 75th percentile (51.7% vs. 80.8%, respectively, P = 0.012). After adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, the odds ratio for recurrent stroke and hypertension, with tHcy above or below the 75th percentile, was 3.4 (95% confidence interval 1.01-10.4, P = 0.037) and 4.02 (95% CI 1.2-13.9, P = 0.028), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A high plasma tHcy level is associated with history of hypertension and recurrent stroke among patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. These results were independent of other risk factors such as atrial fibrillation, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Hypertensive stroke patients with hyperhomocysteinemia should be identified as high risk patients as compared to non-hypertensive stroke patients, and more vigorous measures for secondary prevention may be warranted.