Physical activity study of older people in hospital: A cross-sectional analysis using accelerometers

Abstract

Older people admitted to hospital spend a significant amount of time not being physically active [1–3]. This is associated with a functional decline in activities of daily living upon discharge from hospital [4–7]. This functional decline has been seen in as early as the second day of hospital admission [8]. Inactive older people in hospital also have worse health outcomes, i.e. higher mortality, need for institutionalised care and higher readmission rates to hospital [4,5,9]. Accelerometer devices offer an objective method of capturing patient mobility data [10]. However, there is limited data on its use in older people in an acute hospital. We aim to establish the level of physical activity in older hospital inpatients using a single body-worn accelerometer device; and identify any relationship between levels of physical activity and healthcare outcomes.