title: Timed Up and Go predicts functional decline in older patients presenting to the emergency department following minor trauma†.
abstract: there is no standardised test for assessing mobility in the Emergency Department (ED).
  
  
  
  we wished to evaluate the relationship between the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and frailty, functional decline and falls in community dwelling elders that present to the ED following minor trauma.
  
  
  
  this was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study conducted at eight Canadian hospitals. Evaluations included: TUG; Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Frailty Index; Older American Resources and Service Functional Scale; and self-reported falls. Of note, 3- and 6-month follow-up was conducted. Generalised linear model with log-binomial distribution was utilised. Relative risks (RR) and 95% CI were calculated.
  
  
  
  TUG scores were available for 911/2918 patients, mean age 76.2 (SD 7.8) and 57.9% female. There was an association between TUG scores and frailty (P < 0.05) and functional decline at 3 (P < 0.05) and 6 (P < 0.05) months but not self-reported falls. For TUG scores 10-19 seconds, 20-29 seconds and ≥30 seconds, respectively: (i) frailty RR (95% CI): 1.8 (1.3-2.4), 3.0 (2.2-4.2) and 3.7 (2.6-5.1); (ii) functional decline RR (95% CI): 2.7 (1.1-6.4), 5.5 (2.1-14.3) and 8.9 (3.0-25.8); (iii) falls RR (95% CI): 0.9 (0.5-1.5), 1.3 (0.6-2.5) and 1.1 (0.4-3.5).
  
  
  
  in community dwelling elders presenting to the ED following minor trauma, TUG scores were associated with frailty and strongly associated with functional decline at 3 and 6 months post injury. TUG scores were not associated with self-reported falls. Use of the TUG in the ED will help identify frail patients at risk of functional decline.
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.|Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eagles
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sirois
authors.affiliation: Alberta Health Science Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Hôpital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daoust
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilding
authors.affiliation: Research Center, CHU de Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Neveu
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emond
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D000073496:Frailty / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: emergency department; functional decline; geriatrics; older people; trauma