Identifying elderly patients at risk of readmission after discharge from a short-stay unit in the emergency department using performance-based tests of daily activities.

Louise Moeldrup Nielsen, Thomas Maribo, Hans Kirkegaard, Mette Kops Bjerregaard, Lisa Gregersen Oestergaard

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

4citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

Assessment of physical function of hospitalized older patients in routine clinical practice predicts 1-year mortality; A cohort study of 5,062 medical and surgical patients.European geriatric medicine · 2026
Article
Risk screening by the emergency medical services identifies older patients at risk of emergency department readmission: a retrospective observational study.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025
Observational
Is There Evidence of an Association Between Acute Health Care Utilization and Function in Older Adults Over Time? A Population-Based Cohort Study.Innovation in aging · 2023
Article
Handgrip strength rather than chair stand test should be used to diagnose sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients: REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT).Age and ageing · 2022
Observational

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Louise Moeldrup NielsenDepartment of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark. lmn@via.dk.ORCID 0000-0002-3362-6275

Thomas MariboDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Hans KirkegaardResearch Centre for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Mette Kops BjerregaardNeurorehabilitation and Research Centre, Hammel, Denmark.

Lisa Gregersen OestergaardDepartment of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.

Funding

Aase og Ejnar Danielsens Fond 10-001233Foundation of Public Health 1-30-72-141-12TrygFonden 107632

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReadmission is a serious and adverse event for elderly patients. Despite efforts, predicting the risk of readmission remains imprecise. The objective of this study is to examine if performance-based tests of daily activities can identify elderly patients at risk of readmission within 26 weeks after discharge from a short-stay unit in the emergency department.

methodsThe current study is an observational study based on data from 144 elderly patients included in a previous non-randomised controlled trial. Before discharge, patients were assessed for limitations in performing daily activities using three performance-based tests with predetermined cut-off values: the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, Timed Up and Go and the 30s-Chair Stand Test. Outcome was risk of readmission within 26 weeks after discharge.

resultsLimitations in performing daily activities were associated with risk of readmission as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills motor scale (Crude OR = 4.38 [1.36; 14.12]), (Adjusted OR = 4.17 [1.18; 14.75]) and the 30s-Chair Stand Test (Adjusted OR = 3.36 [1.42; 7.93]). No significant associations were found in regards to other measures.

conclusionThe Assessment of Motor and Process Skills motor scale and the age, gender and comorbidity adjusted 30s-Chair Stand Test can identify elderly patients at increased risk of readmission after discharge from the emergency department. The results were limited by one-third of the patients did not perform the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills and the association between 30s-Chair Stand Test and risk of readmission were only positive when adjusted for age, gender and comorbidity.

Indexed as

Patient DischargePatient ReadmissionAgedEmergency Service, HospitalHumansPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRisk FactorsActivity limitationsElderly patientsEmergency departmentMeasurementPerformance-basedReadmissionRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID32571229

DOI10.1186/s12877-020-01591-y

PMCPMC7310017

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LicenceCC BY

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.