OBJECTIVES:Hip fractures are associated with high levels of co-morbidity and mortality. Orthogeriatric units have been shown to be effective with respect to functional recovery and mortality reduction. The aim of this study is to document the natural history of early multidisciplinary intervention in elderly patients with hip fractures and to establish the prognostic factors of mortality and walking ability after discharge.METHODS:This observational, retrospective study was performed in an orthogeriatric care unit on patients aged ≥70 years with a diagnosis of hip fracture between 2004 and 2008. This study included 1363 patients with a mean age of 82.7±6.4 years.RESULTS:On admission to the unit, the average Barthel score of these patients was 77.2±27.8 points, and the average Charlson index score was 2.14±2.05. The mean length of stay was 8.9±4.26 days, and the readmission rate was 2.3%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.7%, and the mortality rates at one, six, and 12 months after discharge were 8.7%, 16.9%, and 25.9%, respectively. The Cox proportional hazards model estimated that male sex, Barthel scale, heart failure, and cognitive impairment were associated with an increased risk of death. With regard to functionality, 63.7% of the patients were able to walk at the time of discharge, whereas 77.4% and 80.1% were able to walk at one month and six months post-discharge, respectively. The factors associated with a worse functional recovery included cognitive impairment, performance status, age, stroke, Charlson score, and delirium during the hospital stay.CONCLUSIONS:Early multidisciplinary intervention appears to be effective for the management of hip fracture. Age, male sex, baseline function, cognitive impairment and previous comorbidities are associated with a higher mortality rate and worse functional recovery.

We observed higher 12-month mortality and less functional recovery with increasing severity of dementia.

2014). The approach to patients with cognitive impairment and hip fracture: the role of orthogeriatric care. SummaryHip fracture is very common among older patients, who are characterized by increased co-morbidities, including cognitive impairment. These patients have an increased risk of falls and fractures, poorer functional recovery and lower survival both in hospital and 12 months after discharge. We review the survival and functional outcomes of older patients with cognitive impairment and hip fracture managed in orthogeriatric units, and highlight the gaps in our knowledge of the efficacy and efficiency of specific orthogeriatric programmes for such patients and the future research perspectives in this field.

Co-designing an mHealth app for the collection of patient-reported outcomes in frail patients