Evaluation of functional capacity after hospital admission of nonagenarian patients

BACKGROUND: Hospitalisation in nonagenarians patients may causes functional decline. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study sample included all nonagenarians patients admitted during three months in two teaching hospitals. RESULTS: We studied 125 patients (24 [19%] died). In the remaining 101 patients the previous Barthel index (BI) was 75, at admission 33 (p < 0.0001), and at discharge 43 (p < 0.001). The decline in BI at discharge was remarkable (-32; p < 0.0001) and persisted after 3 months (-12, p < 0.003). CONCLUSION: After three months of hospitalisation in nonagenarians patients persist a functional decline.