Article

Low admission Norton scale scores (ANSS) are usually associated with
high risk of pressure ulcer. The aim of this study was to determine whether low
ANSS are also associated with long-term mortality following rehabilitation in
older adults. DESIGN: A cross-sectional retrospective study. SUBJECTS:
Consecutive older adults admitted during 2009 for rehabilitation following stroke
(n = 110), hip arthroplasty (n = 201), and hospital-associated deconditioning (n
= 96). METHODS: Patients were followed until January, 2011. Long-term mortality
rates, i.e. within one year or more, were compared between patients with low (</=
14) ANSS and patients with high (>/= 15) ANSS. RESULTS: The final cohort included
407 patients (67.8% females; mean age 82.2 years). Overall, 193 (47.4%) patients
had low ANSS. Patients were followed for a mean period of 524 days. Overall, 66
(16.2%) patients died during this time. Patients who died had significantly lower
mean ANSS compared with those who survived (13.9 vs 14.9; p = 0.001). Cumulative
survival rates were significantly lower among patients with low ANSS compared
with patients with high ANSS (p = 0.004). Regression analysis showed that ANSS
were independently associated with mortality (p = 0.02), regardless of
rehabilitation cause, age, gender, and chronic co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: ANSS
may be used not only for evaluating pressure ulcer risk, but also for predicting
long-term mortality, i.e. within one year or more, following rehabilitation in
older adults.

Langue : ANGLAIS