Monitoring Physical Activity in Acutely Hospitalized Elderly of 70 Years and Older

This study aims to create reference values regarding the amount of physical activity of acutely hospitalized elderly ≥70 years during hospitalization and aims to create a prediction model in order predict the probability of low amounts of physical activity of acutely hospitalized elderly ≥70 years during hospitalization.

Rationale: Despite numerous studies supporting adverse outcomes associated with low physical activity (PA), there is insufficient insight in the amount of PA of acutely hospitalized Dutch elderly ≥ 70 years. PA can be objectively measured by accelerometers, but it is time consuming and expensive to provide every patient with an accelerometer. We need to be able to predict which elderly patients are likely to spend low amounts of physical activity during hospitalization. Because of the association between PA and functional decline it is expected that functional assessment tests like the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) or Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) could be used as a screening tool to determine which patients will be at risk of low amounts of PA.

Objective: The primary objectives of this study are: 1) To assess the amount of PA of acutely hospitalized elderly ≥70 years during hospitalization and to create reference values regarding the amount of time patients are standing and walking per day and the number of breaks in sedentary time (BST) per day. 2) To be able to predict the probability of low amounts of physical activity during hospitalization for acutely hospitalized elderly ≥70 years.

Study design: This is a single center, observational, prospective cohort study.

Study population: 165 patients aged ≥70 years that are acutely hospitalized at the department of internal and geriatric medicine in the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+).

Method: PA will be monitored with an accelerometer from inclusion (t0) until the day of intended discharge (t1). A functional assessment (SPPB and AM-PAC) will be performed at t0. Medical and demographic data will be obtained from the medical record and by patient report.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Mean number of minutes spent physically active (standing and walking) per day, dichotomized into a low and high amount of time spent physically active per day during hospitalization for the prediction model. Mean number of BST per day, dichotomized into a low and high number of BST per day during hospitalization for the prediction model.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 70 years or older
* Acutely hospitalized in MUMC+ at the department of Internal and Geriatric Medicine
* Sufficient understanding of the Dutch language
* Living at home before hospitalization
* Able to walk independently 2 weeks before admission, as scored on the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC \>3)

Exclusion Criteria:

* A life expectancy of less than three months as assessed by the attending physician
* Incapacitated subjects
* The inability to follow instructions due to cognitive problems or severe agitation
* A contraindication to wearing an accelerometer, fixated by a hypoallergenic plaster, on the upper leg (such as active bilateral upper leg infection, severe edema or bilateral transfemoral amputation)
* (Re)admittance to the intensive care unit
* Presence of contraindications to walking as assessed by the attending physician
* Previous participation to this study