Relationship between Early Postoperative Regional Phase Angle and Walking Ability in Older Adult Patients with Hip Fracture

Objectives: : This study aimed to clarify the relationship between early postoperative regional phase angle (PhA) and walking ability at discharge in older patients with hip fractures. Methods: : The study included patients aged 75 years or older who underwent treatment for hip fractures at our hospital. We calculated the regional PhA from bioelectrical impedance analysis conducted between 3 and 7 days after surgery and investigated the association of PhA with walking ability at discharge. Results: : Overall, 255 cases were included in the analysis (61 men, average age 86.3 years; 194 women, average age 88.1 years). The results of intergroup comparisons based on walking ability demonstrated that the effect size (r) was large for lower limb PhA in men and upper limb PhA in women, whereas the effect size was small for trunk PhA in both men and women. Multiple logistic regression analysis with walking ability as the dependent variable revealed that cognitive function and sound-side lower limb PhA were associated with walking ability in men, whereas age, fracture type, cognitive function, and sound-side upper limb PhA were associated factors in women. Conclusions: : The prediction of walking ability in older patients with hip fractures may be possible using PhA data. The results of this study suggest that lower limb PhA for men and upper limb PhA for women are optimal indicators of walking ability at discharge.