Investigation into the mobility of elderly patients with pneumonia using triaxial accelerometer data

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the levels of physical activity of elderly pneumonia patients. Method: This is a prospective observational study among pneumonia patients who were hospitalized in a clinic within a general and respiratory medicine hospital department, and community-dwelling elderly. Activity levels of 29 elderly patients with pneumonia who were aged > 75 years ( PP group ) , and 15 community-dwelling healthy elderly (CD group) were measured. Triaxial accelerometers were attached to the patients' left chest regions from 48 h until 7 days after hospitalization. Results: The time spent in the upright position was 320.0 min/day in the PP group and 729.0 min/day in the CD group. The time spent walking was 3.8 min/day in the PP group, and 71.0 min/day in the CD group. In the PP group, the times spent in the upright position and walking did not increase during the period studied, that is, from 48 h until 7 days after hospitalization. Conclusion: The time spent in the upright position and walking among elderly patients with pneumonia did not increase, despite gradual improvement of the disease.

Physical Inactivity and Sedentarism during and after Admission with Community-Acquired Pneumonia and the Risk of Readmission and Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Bed rest with limited physical activity is common during admission. In patients with CAP, both external (e.g., oxygen therapy, intravenous antibiotic treatment) and internal (e.g., fatigue, hypoxemia) factors limit physical activity during admission [ 3 ]. As a result, patients admitted with CAP spend over 90% of their in-hospital time being physically inactive, with 900–1300 steps/d during admission [ 4 , 5 ].…”