Hospital-acquired functional decline in older patients cared for in acute medical wards and predictors: Findings from a multicentre longitudinal study

Describing the trajectories of hospital-associated functional decline in older patients admitted to acute medical units and identifying predictors at the individual, nursing, and hospital levels, were the aims of the study. A longitudinal survey among 12 acute medical units in which 1464 patients were consecutively enrolled and evaluated using the Barthel Index (BI), was performed. Functional decline was defined as a decrease in the BI of at least 5 points from admission to discharge. In all, 17.1% participants (n = 251) demonstrated functional decline. In accordance with multiple logistic regression analysis, 28.8% (R2) of the variance in the functional decline was explained by: confusion/disorientation (RR = 4.684; 95% CI = 3.144–6.978), admission from nursing homes (RR = 2.464; 95% CI = 1.642–3.697), daily care expressed in minutes offered by nursing aides (RR = 1.535; 95% CI = 1.275–1.849), higher workforce skill-mix (RR = 2.221; 95% CI = 1.763–2.797), bladder catheter insertion (RR = 1.599; 95% CI = 1.128–2.268), and higher BI score at admission (RR = 1.019; 95% CI = 1.014–1.024). Increasing the amount of care delivered by competent nurses—having a bachelors degree—providing and supervising direct-care activities, may reduce the occurrence of functional decline in older patients admitted to medical units.