Body mass index and functional recovery after hip fracture: a survey study of 510 women

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2006-02, Vol.18 (1), p.57-62
• Main Authors: Di Monaco, Marco, Vallero, Fulvia, Di Monaco, Roberto, Mautino, Fulvio, Cavanna, Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Bone Density; Female; Fractures; Health risk assessment; Hip Fractures - rehabilitation; Humans; Recovery of Function; Regression Analysis; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Centers; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/bf03324641

Low body mass index (BMI) is associated with high risk of osteoporosis and fractures, but its impact on functional recovery after fractures is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the association between BMI and both functional recovery and period of rehabilitation in hip-fractured women. 510 out of 580 Caucasian women with hip fracture, admitted consecutively to a rehabilitation hospital, were investigated in this retrospective study. Functional recovery was assessed using the Barthel index score. In the 510 women, BMI was 22.8 +/- 4.1 kg/m2 (mean +/- SD). After adjustment for age, femur bone mineral density, and the Barthel index assessed on admission to rehabilitation, a significant negative association was found between BMI and both the Barthel index score after rehabilitation and changes in it resulting from rehabilitation (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and the Barthel index assessed on admission to rehabilitation, a significant positive association was found between BMI and period of rehabilitation (p < 0.001). The results were similar when BMI was evaluated either as individual values or after categorization according to World Health Organization criteria. In a sample of hip-fractured women, BMI was negatively associated with Barthel index scores and positively associated with period of rehabilitation. BMI may affect function after hip fracture, apart from hip fracture risk: subjects with higher BMI and low hip fracture risk may have poorer functional recovery in case of hip fracture, despite prolonged rehabilitation. Conversely, subjects with lower BMI and high hip fracture risk may have better functional recovery in case of hip fracture.