The impact of changes in physical activity on functional recovery for older inpatients in community-based integrated care units

Abstract Purpose The effect of increased physical activity duration on functional recovery in older inpatients in subacute settings is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and functional recovery in older patients receiving post-acute and subacute care. Methods We analyzed cohort data of hospitalized older patients (age ≥ 65 years) in the community-based integrated care units. The main outcome was functional independence measure (FIM) gain. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Changes in sedentary behavior and total physical activity time from admission to discharge were measured as changes in each physical activity time. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between changes in physical activity and FIM gain. Results A total of 210 patients were eligible for analysis. The mean age of the study patients was 83.6 ± 7.2 years, and 63.8% (n = 134) were female. According to the multivariate regression analysis, changes in sedentary behavior time were significantly associated with better recovery of FIM gain (odds ratio OR 0.996, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.992–0.999; p = 0.018), and changes in total physical activity time also showed a similar association (OR 1.006, 95% CI: 1.001–1.011; p = 0.023). Conclusion Decreased sedentary behavior time and increased total physical activity time were significantly associated with better functional recovery in community-based integrated care units. These results suggest that interventions for physical activity duration may be effective in older post-acute and subacute patients.