Determinants of out-of-home activity in older adults with cognitive impairment following inpatient rehabilitation: A secondary cross-sectional analysis of a randomised controlled trial using location-based and accelerometer-derived measures
Phoebe Ullrich, Theresa Buchner, Martin Bongartz, Tobias Eckert, Carl-Philipp Jansen, Jürgen M. Bauer, Christian Werner, Klaus HauerObjective
To examine physical activity and its spatial context after geriatric rehabilitation and to identify determinants of out-of-home activity in older adults with cognitive impairment.
Design
Cross-sectional observational study.
Setting
Community, following discharge from geriatric rehabilitation.
Participants
113 geriatric patients (mean age 82.1 ± 6.0 years; 76.1% female) with cognitive impairment following geriatric rehabilitation.
Main Measures
Physical activity was assessed over 48 h using a body-worn accelerometer (PamSys ® ) and location-based tracking derived from the Global Positioning System (Qstarz BT-Q1000XT). Group differences between participants with and without out-of-home activity were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors across physical, psycho-social, cognitive, environmental, financial, and personal domains.
Results
Only 36 (31.9%) of the 113 participants (82.1 ± 6.0 years; 76.1% female) left their homes. Those with out-of-home activity accumulated significantly more daily steps, walking episodes, active time, and less sedentary time than those staying in-home (all
Conclusion
Out-of-home activity is infrequent after rehabilitation in older adults with cognitive impairment and closely reflects overall physical activity. It may serve as a practical marker of mobility and highlights the need for targeted interventions to support community mobility during this vulnerable phase.