title: Assessment of recovery in older patients hospitalized with different diagnoses and functional levels, evaluated with and without geriatric assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the present study was to investigate 1) the role of different admission diagnoses and 2) the degree of functional loss, on the rate of recovery of older patients after acute hospitalization. Furthermore, to compare the predictive value of simple assessments that can be carried out in a hospital lacking geriatric service, with assessments including geriatric screening tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational cohort study, including 961community dwelling patients aged ≥ 70 years, transferred from medical, cardiac, pulmonary and orthopedic acute hospital departments to intermediate care in nursing home. Functional assessment with Barthel index (BI) was performed at admission to the nursing home and further geriatric assessment tests was performed during the first week. Logistic regression models with and without geriatric assessment were compared concerning the patients having 1) slow recovery (nursing home stay up to 2 months before return home) or, 2) poor recovery (dead or still in nursing home at 2 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slow recovery was independently associated with a diagnosis of non-vertebral fracture, BI subgroups 50-79 and <50, and, in the model including geriatric assessment, also with cognitive impairment. Poor recovery was more complex, and independently associated both with BI < 50, receiving home care before admission, higher age, admission with a non-vertebral fracture, and in the geriatric assessment model, cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geriatric assessment is optimal for determining the recovery potential of older patients after acute hospitalization. As some hospitals lack geriatric services and ability to perform geriatric screening tests, a simpler assessment based on admission diagnoses and ADL function (BI), gives good information regarding the possible rehabilitation time and possibility to return home.
authors.affiliation: Department of nursing home medicine, Municipality of Bergen and Kavli Research Centre for Geriatrics and Dementia, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Ulriksdal 8, 5009 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jenny Foss
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.affiliation: Storetveit nursing home, Kirkeveien 29, 5072 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haugland
authors.affiliation: Kavli Research Centre for Geriatrics and Dementia, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Ulriksdal 8, 5009 Bergen, Norway ; Departement of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Anette Hylen
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ranhoff
keywords: Barthel index; Geriatric assessment; Hospitalization; Post-acute care; Recovery