Functionality and cognition of older adults hospitalized in a university hospital.
Felipe Bueno da Silva, Gustavo Carrijo Barbosa, Luana Aparecida da Rocha and 1 others
PMID 41370605WHAT IT FOUND
Hospitalized older adults commonly had probable cognitive deficit and partial dependence in instrumental activities.
Those aged 80 or older had more basic-activity dependence and probable cognitive deficit; age group did not show an association with instrumental activity dependence.
Key findings
01Probable cognitive deficit was present in 62.7% of the evaluated older adults.
02Partial dependence in instrumental activities of daily living was present in 74.5% of the evaluated older adults.
03Some dependence in basic activities was approximately twice as high among participants aged 80 or older compared with those under 80.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 51 older adults from one hospital ward, so it may not represent all hospitalized older adults. Participants were selected intentionally, not randomly, which limits generalization. Participants who were too unwell, isolated, unable to communicate, or without caregiver help were excluded, which may underrepresent the most impaired patients. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that age or hospitalization caused cognitive or functional decline. The paper reported a significant Fisher’s exact test association for instrumental activities, but the regression model reported no association.
Declared interests
The study reported funding from CAPES as a master's scholarship; no other conflicts of interest are reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read age-related dependence and probable cognitive deficit as proof that hospitalization caused decline. The study was cross-sectional, enrolled only patients able to respond or with caregiver help, and did not test interventions or measure change over time.