Intensive geriatric rehabilitation reduced hospital stay and time to independent living in hip fracture patients with mild to moderate dementia
QUESTION: In hip fracture patients with dementia, is intensive geriatric rehabilitation (IGR) effective and does its effectiveness vary with degree of dementia?
Design
Preplanned subgroup analysis of a randomised (unclear allocation concealment), unblinded, controlled trial with 1 year of follow up.
Setting
Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Finland.
Patients
260 independently living patients ≥65 years of age (mean age 80 y, 72% women) who were admitted to hospital with a hip fracture. Exclusion criteria were inability to walk unaided before the fracture, pathological fractures, multiple fractures, serious early complications, receiving calcitonin treatment, or terminal illness. 238 patients (92%) completed the study.
Intervention
After surgery for hip fracture, 130 patients were allocated to IGR, which consisted of providing advice, training, drug treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy; listening to patients' concerns; and help with use of appliances, equipment, and daily living aids all provided within the geriatric ward of the …
