Povzetek
Falls due to inadequate balance may occur among newly discharged hospitalized patients of any age but most studies focused on recuperating older adults with neurological or orthopaedic disorders. This study assessed on-the-spot discharge day balance of middle-aged medical patients and investigated whether this related to duration of hospitalization. Eighty-seven newly discharged middle-aged patients managed for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lung and heart diseases and cancer patients receiving only chemotherapy and 87 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls were assessed for static and dynamic balance using the One Leg Stance (OLS) and 5-meter Timed Up and Go (5mTUG) tests respectively. Mean duration of hospitalization was 15.72 ± 9.51 days. The OLS was shorter (4.79 ± 2.34 secs) in the patients than controls (11.64 ± 2.59 secs); while the 5mTUG was longer (22.26 ± 11.67 secs) in the patients. Significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained when both tests were compared for both groups. Using Pearson’s correlation, duration of hospitalization significantly (P<0.05) related with both tests. Middleaged medical patients had low balance at discharge. The balance reduced as the hospitalization period advanced. Hospitalized medical patients should be assessed for balance and treated accordingly before final discharge in order to minimize dangerous outcomes from falls.
Keywords: Falls, admission, balance scores, discharge
Résumé
La plupart des études sont focalisées sur la récupération des adultes plus âges avec des désordres neurologiques et orthopédiques que sur le déséquilibre des nouveaux hospitalisées. Cette étude évaluait ces patient d’âge moyen a leur point de décharge des déséquilibre vis-à-vis de la durée d’hospitalisation. Quatre vingt sept a la décharge ayant obtenu les soins d’hypertension le diabète mellite, les infections pulmonaires et les désordres cardiaques et une chimiothérapie du cancer. Compare a 87 contrôle sain de même sexe de l’équilibre statique et dynamique utilisant les tests d’équilibre (OLS) et 5mTUG. La durée moyenne d’hospitalisation était de 15.72 ± 9.51jours. Le test d’OLS était court de 4.79 ± 2.34 jours aux patients compare a 11.64 ± 2.59 aux contrôles sain tandis que le test de 5mTUG était plus long de 22.26 ± 11.67 aux patients. Ils avaient des différences significatives lorsque les groupes étaient compares utilisant la corrélation de Pearson, la durée d’hospitalisation liaient significativement les groupes (P<0.005). Les patients en leur moitié d’âge avaient une équilibre faible a la décharge. Cet équilibre réduisait avec la durée longue d’hospitalisation. L’équilibre des patients doit être évalué et les soins nécessaires, attribués avant la décharge finale dans le but de minimiser les résultats dangereux d’insuffisance ou chute.
Correspondence: Dr. A.F. Adeniyi, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: adeniyifatai@yahoo.co.uk and fadeniyi@comui.edu.ng
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