Association between longitudinal clinical outcomes in patients with hip fracture and their pre‐fracture place of residence

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes of patients with proximal femoral fracture within 1 year after hospitalization are presented. In particular, associations between the patients' clinical status and their pre-fracture residence were evaluated (community-dwelling vs nursing home). METHODS: Patients aged >/=60 years with proximal femoral fractures were included in a prospective, single-centre observational study and followed for 12 months. Patients' clinical status at baseline was compared to their health status at follow-up 12 months later. Several standardized questionnaires were used to evaluate the patients' functional and cognitive capacity (e.g. Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Barthel Index, and Mini-Mental State Examination), mobility (timed up-and-go test, Tinetti Test, and Harris Hip Score), quality of life (EuroQol-5 Dimensions index and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale), and psychological status (Geriatric Depression Scale). RESULTS: This study included 402 patients (mean age: 81.3 +/- 8.2 years, 72% women). Patients stayed in hospital for 13.7 +/- 6.1 days on average. The comparison of patients' clinical status at baseline and at 12-month follow-up revealed that the Mini-Mental State Examination and Charlson Comorbidity Index remained unchanged (P = 0.527 and P = 0.705), the level of depression (Geriatric Depression Scale) significantly decreased (P < 0.001), and quality of life (EuroQol-5 Dimensions index) diminished (P < 0.001). Although patients' mobility increased after 12 months (P < 0.001 for timed up-and-go test and Harris Hip Score), their functional capacity was significantly reduced (P < 0.001 for Barthel Index and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale). Nursing home residents showed a significantly higher impairment at baseline than community-dwelling individuals and less improvement in functional and cognitive tests at 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes after hip fracture are significantly associated with patients' pre-fracture residence status. Place of residence as well as functional and cognitive status on admission may lead to differences in functional recovery and affect therapeutic and rehabilitative decision-making.