title: Admission Norton scale scores (ANSS) correlate with rehabilitation outcome and length in elderly patients with deconditioning.
abstract: We sought to determine if admission Norton scale scores (ANSS) used for evaluating pressure ulcer risk also correlate with rehabilitation outcome and length in elderly patients with deconditioning. This was a retrospective study conducted in a geriatric department between June 2008 and June 2010. The medical charts of consecutive elderly (≥65 years) patients admitted for rehabilitation due to deconditioning were studied for the following measurements: ANSS, admission albumin serum levels, mini-mental status examination (MMSE) scores, discharge walking functional independence measure (FIM) scores, discharge transfer FIM scores, and rehabilitation length. The cohort included 152 patients: 79 (52%) females and 73 (48%) males. Mean age was 83.6±6.5 years. The three most common causes of deconditioning were pneumonia, congestive heart failure exacerbation, and falls. ANSS correlated with discharge walking FIM scores (r=0.32; p=0.003), discharge transfer FIM scores (r=0.30; p=0.005), and length of rehabilitation (r=-0.37; p<0.0001), following adjustment for age, albumin serum levels, and MMSE scores. Linear regression analysis showed that ANSS were independently associated with discharge walking FIM scores (p=0.004), discharge transfer FIM scores (p=0.006), and rehabilitation length (p<0.0001). We conclude that the Norton scoring system may be used for predicting the outcome and the length of rehabilitation in elderly patients with deconditioning.
authors.affiliation: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Medicine, Post Office Box 12121, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Yaffa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Justo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome