Physical Activity and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adult Patients With Heart Failure Admitted for Subacute Musculoskeletal Disease

Abstract

Objective To examine activities of daily living (ADL) and physical activity in older adults with heart failure admitted to a rehabilitation ward for subacute musculoskeletal disease. Methods This study included patients with musculoskeletal disease (aged ≥75 years) who were admitted to the rehabilitation ward. Data on age, ADL, and time for physical activity (metabolic equivalents [METs]) were collected. Patients were divided into groups with or without heart failure, and the differences were compared using Mann–Whitney U-test. Results This study included 84 musculoskeletal patients, including 25 with heart failure. The heart-failure group had similar levels of ADL independence compared to the without-heart-failure group (p=0.28) but had shorter duration of continuous and sustained physical activities and less total time (p<0.01) of light-intensity physical activity or higher. Conclusion Older adults with subacute musculoskeletal disease with heart failure do not necessarily require a large amount of physical activity to maintain ADL at the time of discharge. But very low physical activity may increase the risk for developing hospitalization-associated disability. Physical activity in older adults with subacute musculoskeletal disease with heart failure should be monitored separately from ADL.

Keywords

• activities of daily living
• heart failure
• aged
• sedentary behavior
• musculoskeletal disease