Estimation of functional recovery in patients after hip fracture by Berg Balance Scale regarding the sex, age and comorbidity of participants

AIM: To evaluate the functional status measured by Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in elderly aged more than 65 years after hip fractures, and to evaluate the influence of sex, age and comorbidity on balance function improvement. METHODS: The study included 203 patients with hip fractures. Functional status was evaluated by BBS: at admission (Group 1), at discharge (Group 2) and 3 months after discharge (Group 3). We analyzed three age groups: Group 65-74 , Group 75-84 and Group 85-up; female and male sex separately; and for severity index value (SI; total cumulative illness rating scale for geriatrics score divided by number of endorsed categories): group between 0-1.99 (SI1 ) and group ≥ 2 (SI2 ). RESULTS: BBS values significantly declined in all male groups and female Group 2 and Group 3 in SI2 (P < 0.01). Group 65-74 and Group 85-up had a significant BBS values decline in Group 2 and Group 3, whereas Group 75-84 had a significant decline in all groups in the SI2 group (P < 0.01). Females and males had a significant BBS values increase in the SI1 groups (P < 0.01), and non-significant BBS values increase between Group 2/Group 3 for SI2 . Group85-up had a significant BBS values increase in SI1 (Group 1/Group 2 and Group 1/Group 3; P < 0.01); a non-significant increase between Group 1/Group 2 and Group 1/Group 3, and a non-significant decline between Group 2/Group 3 in SI2. CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, increased comorbidity and age more than 85 years could be considered with lower functional recovery capacity potential after hip fracture, and thus should be individually assessed and continuously monitored. Functional status estimation by BBS could be taken as a sensitive predictive value for the evaluation of functional improvement in these patients.