Influence of physical characteristics on readmission in older cardiac patients

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of physical characteristics using consensus-based criteria on readmission in older cardiac patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 70 cardiac patients (mean age, 78.4 years; 42.9% women). We investigated the incidence of readmission 1 year from hospital discharge. Physical characteristics were evaluated the presence of sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low physical function, and low physical performance, respectively. Sarcopenia, low muscle mass and low physical function were defined with reference to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia-suggested diagnostic algorithm. Low physical performance was defined as a short physical performance battery score of less than 10 points. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the relationships between the presence of various physical characteristics and the time to readmission in univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively. Results: The incidence of readmission was 22.9%. The adjusted HR (95% CI) was 2.59 (0.73-9.14), 1.29 (0.36-4.68), 4.81 (1.06-21.85), and 12.76 (2.61- 62.45) in patients with sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low physical function, and low physical performance, respectively. Conclusion: Although this is the discovery as a pilot study, the risk of readmission in older cardiac patients with low physical function or performance might be higher than that in these patients with normal physical function or performance, regardless of muscle mass.