Abstract

Background: Dynapenia and poor balance is at central part of frailty and is associated with function declining in community-dwelling older people. Little was known the consequences of dynapenia and poor balance among older inpatients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dynapenia and balance on functional and mortality outcomes.

Methods: All patients received baseline comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and would be follow up from six to nine month after discharge. CGA included basic demography, multimorbidity, cognitive function, nutritional status, risk of fall, depressive symptoms, mobility, and balance subscale of Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment. A composite outcome composed of mortality and function decline.

Results: Of 150 patients, 108 (72%) were dynapenia and 72 (48%) were poor balance. 39 (26%) experienced a composite outcome during follow-up period. Univariate Cox PH model showed that age (hazard ratio (HR): 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01.2, p = 0.039), dynapenia (HR: 8.1; 95% CI: 1.159.2, p = 0.040), and poor balance (HR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.36.3, p = 0.009) were associated with the composite outcome. Results of age adjusted Cox PH analysis for the composite outcome and function declining were similar. In the multivariate Cox PH model adjusted for corresponding variables, those dynapenic and poor balance older inpatients had higher risk than non-dynapenic and intact balance ones to experience the composite outcome (HR: 8.0; 95% CI :0.971.0, p = 0.062) and function decline (HR: 6.8; 95% CI: 0.861.7, p = 0.086), respectively.

Conclusion: Dynapenia and balance were associated with a composite outcome of function decline and mortality. Incorporate routine screening of dynapenia and balance in admission assessments would identify people at risk and may benefit their six-month post-discharge outcome.