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Accelerometer‐Measured Hospital Physical Activity and Hospital‐Acquired Disability in Older Adults
Author(s) -
Pavon Juliessa M.,
Sloane Richard J.,
Pieper Carl F.,
ColónEmeric Cathleen S.,
Cohen Harvey J.,
Gallagher David,
Hall Katherine S.,
Morey Miriam C.,
McCarty Midori,
Hastings Susan N.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.16231
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , activities of daily living , observational study , physical therapy , physical activity , activity tracker , geriatrics , prospective cohort study , pedometer , psychiatry
BACKGROUND Hospital‐acquired disability (HAD) is common and often related to low physical activity while in the hospital. OBJECTIVE To examine whether wearable hospital activity trackers can be used to predict HAD. DESIGN A prospective observational study between January 2016 and March 2017. SETTING An academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Community‐dwelling older adults, aged 60 years or older, enrolled within 24 hours of admission to general medicine (n = 46). MAIN MEASURES Primary outcome was HAD, defined as having one or more new activity of daily living deficits, decline of four or greater on the Late‐Life Function and Disability Instrument (calculated between baseline and discharge), or discharge to a skilled nursing facility. Hospital activity (mean active time, mean sedentary time, and mean step counts per day) was measured using ankle‐mounted accelerometers. The association of the literature‐based threshold of 900 steps/day with HAD was also evaluated. RESULTS Mean age was 73.2 years (SD = 9.5 years), 48% were male, and 76% were white. Median length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 2.0‐6.0 days); 61% (n = 28) reported being able to walk without assistance of another person or walking aid at baseline. Median daily activity time and step counts were 1.1 h/d (IQR = 0.7‐1.7 h/d) and 1455.7 steps/day (IQR = 908.5‐2643 steps/day), respectively. Those with HAD (41%; n = 19) had lower activity time (0.8 vs 1.4 h/d; P = .04) and fewer step counts (1186 vs 1808 steps/day; P = .04), but no difference in sedentary time, compared to those without HAD. The 900 steps/day threshold had poor sensitivity (40%) and high specificity (85%) for detecting HAD. CONCLUSIONS Low hospital physical activity, as measured by wearable accelerometers, is associated with HAD. Clinicians can utilize wearable technology data to refer patients to physical/occupational therapy services or other mobility interventions, like walking programs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:261–265, 2020