INTRODUCTION

Regaining basic mobility independence is considered important for elderly hospitalised patients. The Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS) is a valid tool for evaluating these patients' basic mobility (getting in and out of bed, sit-to-stand from a chair and walking) in orthopaedic wards, and its use is recommended in Denmark for patients with hip fracture. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the feasibility of the CAS in a geriatric ward and to describe its use after hip fracture in Denmark.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 101 consecutive patients (with a mean age of 84.9 (standard deviation 7.2) years) were evaluated with the CAS upon admission and at discharge from a geriatric ward, while data concerning the use of the CAS after hip fracture were collected from national Danish reports.

RESULTS

All geriatric patients could be evaluated with the CAS. A total of 41% were independent in terms of basic mobility at admission and 83% of patients at discharge from the ward (p < 0.001). Patients who were not independent in basic mobility upon admission died more often during admission or were more often not discharged to their own home than patients who were independent in basic mobility. National data from the year 2010 showed that the CAS was reported by 21 (78%) of the 27 hospitals and used in 92% of the hospitals that will be treating patients with hip fracture in the future.

CONCLUSION

In geriatric wards, the CAS is a feasible tool for evaluating all patients' basic mobility, and we recommend that it be used in other settings and at all hospitals treating patients with hip fracture.