Physical activity is low before and during hospitalisation: A secondary observational study in older Australian general medical patients.

Objectives: To quantify physical activity in patients prior to and during an acute general medical hospital admission and explore relationships between mobility, pre‐ and in‐hospital physical activity. Methods: This was a prospective, single‐site secondary observational study conducted on general medical wards at a tertiary hospital. Prehospital physical activity was measured via the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE; scored 0–400); in‐hospital physical activity was measured via accelerometry (time at metabolic equivalents [METs] > 1.5), and mobility was measured via the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI). Associations were determined via Spearman's correlations. Results: Forty‐six participants were included: median age 81 [76–85] years, 59% female, DEMMI on admission 39 [30–49]. Prehospital physical activity was low (PASE median 27.1 [1.6–61.9]). In‐hospital physical activity was also low (0.5 [0.2–1.5] hours per day being physically active and 54 [16–194] steps per day taken). No statistically significant relationships existed between pre‐ and in‐hospital physical activity (Spearman's rho (ρ) 0.24, 95% CI −0.08–0.53, p = 0.07). However, physical activity levels in the pre‐ and in‐hospital settings were positively associated with patients' mobility in‐hospital (Spearman's ρ 0.44, 95% CI 0.15–0.67, p = 0.002; Spearman's ρ 0.40, 95% CI 0.08–0.645, p = 0.011 respectively). Conclusions: Physical activity is low both before and during a general medical admission. Assessment of usual physical activity patterns should be part of the clinical assessment of patients in general medicine; however, the low activity levels observed indicate a need for valid and reliable tools suitable for an older, frail cohort. Findings will inform the development of physical activity guidelines during hospitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]