Higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores do not influence Functional Independence Measure score gains in older rehabilitation patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score on Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score gain in older rehabilitation patients.


METHODS
This prospective cohort study observed 306 older rehabilitation patients admitted to a secondary hospital between February and April 2015. Groups were compared using CCI score cut-offs of ≤4, 5-6 and ≥ 7.


RESULTS
Complete FIM data were available for 280 patients. The mean age-adjusted CCI score was 5.59 ± 1.96. An age-adjusted CCI score ≤4 correlated with higher FIM scores at admission P = 0.015, and discharge P = 0.002, but not with a greater gain in FIM score P = 0.067. There were no significant between-group differences in mortality, hospital transfers or length of stay.


CONCLUSIONS
The Charlson age-comorbidity index was not a prognostic marker for FIM gain. Age and comorbidity alone are not barriers to the rehabilitation of older patients.
Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Osborne Park Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Sarah
S
Bernard
Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Osborne Park Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Charles
C
Inderjeeth
Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Warren
W
Raymond
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia
comorbidity; hospitals; rehabilitation