Clinical Characteristics of Older Heart Failure Patients With Hospital-Acquired Disability: A Preliminary, Single-Center, Observational Study

• Published in: Cardiology research 2021-10, Vol.12 (5), p.293-301
• Main Authors: Takara, Yuki, Saitoh, Masakazu, Morisawa, Tomoyuki, Takahashi, Tetsuya, Yoshida, Nozomu, Sakiyama, Munetoshi, Nakamura, Ryuta, Tei, Imun, Fujiwara, Toshiyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1923-2829; 1923-2837
• DOI: 10.14740/cr1306

This study investigated the clinical factors related to hospital-acquired disability (HAD) among 70 patients (median age, 78 years; interquartile range (IQR), 78 - 83) who were hospitalized for heart failure (HF) at Ayase Heart Hospital between December 2019 and October 2020. HAD was defined as a ≥ 5-point decrease in Barthel Index (BI) scores from admission to discharge. Twenty-nine HF patients (41%) developed HAD after admission. Compared to the non-HAD group, the HAD group had higher Kihon Checklist scores (14 points (IQR, 11 - 17) vs. 9 points (IQR, 6 - 13); P < 0.01) and prevalence of multi-faceted frailty (90% vs. 29%; P < 0.01), a longer urinary-catheter-placement period (3 days (IQR, 1 - 5] vs. 1 day (IQR, 0 - 2), P < 0.05), less daily number of steps (457 steps (IQR, 301 - 997) vs. 1,692 steps (IQR, 1,227 - 2,418); P < 0.01), and moderate-intensity physical activity time (0 min (IQR, 0 - 2] vs. 1 min (IQR, 0 - 3); P < 0.05). In conclusion, lower physical function and general physical activity and longer urinary-catheter-placement are associated with HAD.