title: Early planning of care and rehabilitation after amputation for vascular disease by means of Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the Swedish version of the Katz Index of ADL (Activities of Daily Living), on days 5-7 after amputation for vascular disease, had predictive value regarding length of hospital stay, discharge to the patient's own home or death within 1 month. Patients who had recently undergone primary unilateral trans-tibial amputation, living in their own homes before the amputation, were included. Fifty-two patients with a median age of 78 years (60-92) were assessed with the Katz Index of ADL. Results revealed that of the 10 (20%) patients discharged to their own homes within 1 month, only 2 belonged to grades A-C, that is, were independent in the majority of functions in personal ADL. Within 6 months 62% were discharged to their own homes. Eighty-four percent of the patients in grades D-G, i.e. most dependent on others, were still at the hospital or dead 1 month post-operatively. All the patients who belonged to grades A-F survived the first month post-operatively. The Katz Index of ADL had predictive value regarding early outcome in terms of length of hospital stay, discharge to the patient's own home or death within 1 month, and positive predictive value regarding survival the first month post-operatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden. ylva.hermodsson@nvs.ltskane.se
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hermodsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ekdahl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013548:Sweden; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery