Influence of selective comorbidity predictors on functional recovery after hip fracture in an older population

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of four comorbidities from the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) and their severity on functional status outcome after a rehabilitation program measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in patients with hip fracture. METHODS: The study included 203 patients whose functional status was evaluated by the BBS at admission (Group 1), at discharge (Group 2) and 3 months after discharge (Group 3). Further comorbidity parameters from the CIRS-G were assessed: musculoskeletal impairment, neurological, vascular and cognitive impairment. For the evaluation of CIRS-G severity degree we used the range 0-4. RESULTS: At admission there were non-significant differences in mean values of BBS between parameters for the same CIRS-G severity degree. Significant differences between BBS values were noticed in the period after discharge (Group 2((musculoskeletal)); P<0.05, Group 2((neurological and cognitive)); P<0.01) and after 3 months of follow-up (Group 3((musculoskeletal, neurological and cognitive)); P<0.01). Higher effects of CIRS-G severity degree on BBS values in Group 2 and Group 3 for neurological impairment (η(2)(Group2)=29.76 and η(2)(Group3)=28.35) and even higher for cognitive impairment (η(2)(Group2)=34.35 and η(2)(Group3)=40.63) were noticed. CONCLUSION: Increase in CIRS-G severity degree of cognitive and neurological impairment in patients after hip fracture that were included in the rehabilitation program correlates closely with functional status after discharge and after 3 months of follow-up. Rehabilitation of patients after hip fracture should be mandatory for functional recovery regardless of the comorbidity and functional status.