SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL FUNCTION AS A PREDICTOR OF HOSPITALIZATION IN THE LIFE STUDY

Abstract

Background: For older adults, hospitalization confers functional loss, which in turn increases hospitalizations. Mobility screening may identify an at‐risk population for early intervention. The Mobility Assessment Tool‐short form (MAT‐sf) is a brief, innovative, avatarbased self‐report tool that predicts mobility disability. This study explored whether baseline MAT‐sf score is associated with number of hospitalizations and time to first hospitalization. Methods: Post‐hoc analysis of prospectively‐gathered data from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study, a randomized clinical trial of lifestyle interventions to preserve mobility in older adults, conducted in eight U.S. academic medical centers. Among 1635 sedentary community‐dwelling older adults enrolled in LIFE, 1574 completed baseline physical function screening including MAT‐sf, with scores ranging from 30.2 (low function) to 69.8 (high function). Number of hospitalizations and time to first hospitalization, adjusted for age, gender, race, living alone, clinical site, and baseline comorbid conditions, # prescription medications, and cognition. Results: Of the 1557 participants with hospitalization data, 726 (47%) experienced at least one hospitalization, with the majority (78%) experiencing 1‐2 hospitalizations. For every 10‐point increase in MAT‐sf defined mobility, there was a 16% decreased rate of all hospitalizations (adjusted rate ratio 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.93, p< 0.001). Higher baseline MAT‐sf scores were also associated with a decreased risk of first hospitalization (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.92, p< 0.001, per 10‐point increase in MAT‐sf). Conclusion: MAT‐sf may identify older adults at increased risk for hospitalizations, who may benefit from care coordination.