What does this research mean for the field?

Reduced physical function, as assessed by CAS, 30s-STS, or HGS, is associated with a markedly increased 1-year mortality in hospitalized older adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to determine how physical function assessment can predict 1-year mortality in older hospitalized patients.

March 2, 2026Open Access

Assessment of physical function of hospitalized older patients in routine clinical practice predicts 1-year mortality; A cohort study of 5,062 medical and surgical patients

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Adults (mean age 74.5 years, 54% female) hospitalized in medical and surgical wards with physical function evaluated by CAS, 30s-STS, or HGS (n=5062). Intervention: Physical function assessment using Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS), 30-second Sit-To-Stand test (30s-STS), and Handgrip Strength (HGS) vs. Normal physical function according to Danish age- and sex-specific reference values. Primary outcome: All-cause 1-year mortality (HR 1.98 for reduced CAS; HR 3.57 for reduced 30s-STS; HR 2.06 for reduced HGS, 95% CI CAS 1.71–2.29; 30s-STS 2.21–5.78; HGS 1.66–2.56, p=<0.001).

Key Result

Reduced physical function assessed by CAS, 30s-STS, or HGS was associated with a markedly increased 1-year mortality with HRs of 1.98, 3.57, and 2.06 respectively in hospitalized older adults.

Key Points

The study aims to determine how physical function assessment can predict 1-year mortality in older hospitalized patients.
Conducted a cohort study with 5,062 medical and surgical patients.
Assessed physical function using CAS, 30s-STS, and HGS tests.
Analyzed the relationship between physical function and 1-year mortality.
Found a significant increase in 1-year mortality among patients with reduced physical function.
Demonstrated that the test battery is low-cost and easy to implement in various healthcare settings.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=5,062)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does reduced physical function predict increased 1-year mortality in hospitalized older medical and surgical patients?

Population

5,062 adult medical and surgical hospitalized patients evaluated by physical or occupational therapists at an acute-care community hospital, mean age 74.5 years, 54.4% women.

Intervention

Reduced physical function as assessed by the Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS), Handgrip strength (HGS), or 30s-Sit-To-Stand test (30s-STS).

Comparator

Normal physical function according to Danish sex- and age-decade reference values.

Outcome

All-cause mortality at 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year follow-up.hard clinical

Reduced physical function, as assessed by simple tests like CAS, HGS, and 30s-STS, is a strong predictor of 1-year mortality in hospitalized older patients.

Main Result

Effect estimate: HR 1.98 for reduced CAS; HR 3.57 for reduced 30s-STS; HR 2.06 for reduced HGS (95% CI CAS 1.71–2.29; 30s-STS 2.21–5.78; HGS 1.66–2.56)

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Observational design precludes causal inference between physical function and mortality.
Incomplete data collection for HGS (51% assessed) with selection bias as frailest patients less likely assessed.
Over 90% of patients showed reduced 30s-STS performance limiting its discriminative utility.
No adjustment for other mortality predictors such as frailty, nutritional, or cognitive status beyond multimorbidity index.
Study conducted at a single acute-care hospital in Denmark limiting generalizability.

Abstract

In older medical and surgical hospitalised patients with reduced physical function (CAS, 30s-STS or HGS) 1-year mortality was markedly increased. This simple test battery is rapid and low-cost and can easily be implemented in other hospitals, acute care facilities, and across sectors.

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Cite This Study

Kristensen et al. (Sat,) conducted a cohort in Adults (mean age 74.5 years, 54% female) hospitalized in medical and surgical wards with physical function evaluated by CAS, 30s-STS, or HGS (n=5,062). Physical function assessment using Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS), 30-second Sit-To-Stand test (30s-STS), and Handgrip Strength (HGS) vs. Normal physical function according to Danish age- and sex-specific reference values was evaluated on All-cause 1-year mortality (HR 1.98 for reduced CAS; HR 3.57 for reduced 30s-STS; HR 2.06 for reduced HGS, 95% CI CAS 1.71–2.29; 30s-STS 2.21–5.78; HGS 1.66–2.56, p=<0.001). Reduced physical function assessed by CAS, 30s-STS, or HGS was associated with a markedly increased 1-year mortality with HRs of 1.98, 3.57, and 2.06 respectively in hospitalized older adults.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a52df3f1e85e5c73bf129c https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-026-01439-5

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