Relationship between the characteristics of lower extremity function and activities of daily living in hospitalized middle-aged and older adults with subacute cardiovascular disease.
Tatsuya Igarashi, Kazuhiro Miyata, Shuntaro Tamura and 3 others
PMID 36337222WHAT IT FOUND
In hospitalized older adults with cardiovascular disease, both lower limb strength and walking endurance correlated with daily independence.
Patients aged 75 or older with deficits in both areas had the lowest independence scores. Assessing both may better identify who needs targeted rehabilitation.
Key findings
01Both lower extremity function (SPPB) and aerobic capacity (6MWD) were significantly associated with functional independence (FIM) in the overall group.
02In patients aged 75 and older, those with impaired lower limb function and low aerobic capacity had significantly lower FIM scores than those with good function in both areas.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study only included patients who were able to perform the 6-minute walk test, which excludes those with more severe disability or medical instability. The majority of participants had mild disease (NYHA class I or II), so results may not apply to patients with more severe heart failure. The cross-sectional design means the study shows an association between physical performance and ADL independence, but it cannot prove that improving physical performance will directly cause an improvement in independence.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving one measure (e.g., walking endurance) will automatically resolve deficits in the other (e.g., lower limb strength). The study shows these are related but distinct factors, and patients may have impairments in one area while being preserved in the other.