A Barthel index score <85 at discharge was associated with a lower survival rate compared to a score ≥85 (65% vs. 74%; P=0.007) in elderly heart failure patients.
Cohort (n=413)
Does a low Barthel Index score (<85) at discharge predict increased all-cause mortality in elderly heart failure patients receiving comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation?
A Barthel Index score <85 at discharge is an independent predictor of increased all-cause mortality in elderly heart failure patients, highlighting the prognostic value of basic activities of daily living assessment.
Absolute Event Rate: 65% vs 74%
p-value: p=0.007
BACKGROUND: A strategy to predict mortality in elderly heart failure (HF) patients has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively enrolled 413 HF patients aged ≥65 years (mean age 78 years) who had received comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) during hospitalization. Basic activities of daily life were assessed before discharge using the Barthel index (BI). Of 413 HF patients, 116 (28%) died during a median follow-up period of 1.90 years (interquartile range 1.20-3.23 years). An adjusted dose-dependent association analysis showed that the hazard ratio (HR) of mortality increased in an almost linear manner as the BI score decreased, and that a BI score of 85 corresponded to an HR of 1.0. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival rate was lower for patients with a low BI (<85) than for those with a high BI (≥85; 65% vs. 74%, respectively; P=0.007). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, low BI was independently associated with higher mortality after adjusting for predictors, including B-type natriuretic peptide. Inclusion of the BI into the adjusted model improved the accuracy of the prediction of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A BI score <85 at the time of discharge is associated with increased mortality independent of known prognostic markers, and achieving functional status with a BI score ≥85 by comprehensive CR during hospitalization may contribute to favorable outcomes in elderly HF patients.
Katano et al. (Thu,) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=413). Low Barthel index (<85) vs. High Barthel index (≥85) was evaluated on Survival rate (p=0.007). A Barthel index score <85 at discharge was associated with a lower survival rate compared to a score ≥85 (65% vs. 74%; P=0.007) in elderly heart failure patients.