title: Decline in physical function following hip fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of the study was to determine the change in physical function following hip fractures in a community-living elderly population. A secondary objective was the determination of baseline factors predictive of altered function following hip fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban, community-living elders.
  
  
  METHODS
  120 members of a cohort of 2806 individuals age 65 and older in New Haven, CT who sustained a hip fracture from 1982 to 1988 and were treated in the two New Haven hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported performance of dressing, transferring, walking across a room, climbing stairs, and walking one-half mile before the fracture occurred and 6 weeks and 6 months post-fracture. Baseline factors were assessed before the hip fracture occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 120 cohort members who sustained a hip fracture in the 6-year study period, 22 died within 6 months of the fracture. Among survivors there was a sustained decline in function at 6 weeks after the fracture with little improvement by 6 months. At baseline, 86% could dress independently versus 49% at 6 months; 90% could transfer independently versus 32% at 6 months; 75% could walk across a room independently versus 15% at 6 months; 63% could climb a flight of stairs versus 8% at 6 months; and 41% could walk one-half mile versus 6% at 6 months. Physical function and mental status were the only baseline factors significantly associated with physical function at 6 months after the fracture in bivariate analysis, while physical function and depression were associated in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a substantial decline in physical function following hip fracture in a prospectively followed community-living elderly population. Only pre-morbid physical and mental function predicted this decline.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510-8056.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marottoli
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Berkman
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cooney
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support