Factors affecting the discharge destination of hip fracture patients who live alone and have been admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit

Abstract

[Purpose] (1) The aim of this study was to examine relations between clinical and functional assessment and discharge destination and (2) to identify the optimal cutoff point for estimating discharge to home after inpatient rehabilitation. [Subjects] The subjects were 54 hip fracture patients (15 males, 39 females; mean age 81.3 ± 7.4 years) living alone. [Methods] The patients were classified into two groups: those discharged to home and those admitted to an institution. Age, gender, side of fracture, fracture type, number of comorbidities, Functional Independence Measure motor score, and Functional Independence Measure cognitive score were compared between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted with discharge to home as the dependent variable and age, gender, side of fracture, fracture type, number of comorbidities, Functional Independence Measure motor score, and Functional Independence Measure cognitive score as independent variables. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify a cutoff point for classification of the patients into the two groups. [Results] Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the Functional Independence Measure cognitive score was a significant variable affecting the discharge destination. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that discharge to home was predicted accurately by a Functional Independence Measure cognitive score of 23.5. [Conclusion] Information from this study is expected to be useful for determining discharge plans and for the setting of treatment goals.