In the elderly, hip fracture is a common disease. Previous studies show that more than half of these patients has a co-existing dementia and/or delirium diagnose. We found a cognitive disorder diagnose code registered in only 11% of 14,993 hip fracture patients, 65 years or older, in Stockholm, Sweden during 1994–1999. Although most common in the clinical setting, acute confusional state (delirium) was hardly ever diagnose-coded (1%). Furthermore, the share of dementia/delirium registrations ranged from 6 to 17% between hospitals and within a single hospital from 1 to 20 %. The lack of pattern in diagnosis coding became even more evident in the patients who were transferred from acute care to geriatric rehabilitation – it was unusual that the diagnosis was given at both specialities. Also regarding secondary diagnoses on the whole, large differences on hospital level was found (range 0.4 – 2.2/patient). The over all impression of the findings was that recording of comorbid conditions in acute somatic care depends on other factors than the patient’s actual state such as traditions, attitudes and local policies (or the lack thereof). In conclusion, significant conditions crucial for planning, treatment and prognosis in the hip fracture population are virtually invisible in this administrative database.

The aim of this study was to describe the conditions for rehabilitation of older patients with dementia and hip fracture from the perspective of their next of kin. Twenty patients at orthopaedic wards were examined postfracture using a short cognitive test. The same number of next of kin answered four open-ended questions about rehabilitation as well as about the patient’s physical function. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify categories. The findings indicate that the conditions for rehabilitation of older patients with dementia and hip fracture are related to the patients’ competence, specific needs of support in the light of competence, environmental factors and classification of the rehabilitation activities. The study confirms that the conditions for rehabilitation are related to symptoms of dementia disease and arise from a decline in competence making the patient unable to cope with the environmental pressure and to perform rehabilitation activities. Because of difficulties in assessing competence, patients with dementia are being judged as incapable of managing rehabilitation. A supportive strategy is necessary to encourage the recovery process.

Background:  Many patients with hip fractures suffer from dementia disease, which has shown to affect the outcome of recovery strongly, as well as care and treatment. As most hip fracture patients are discharged home early after surgery, caregiving often falls on family members – spouses, daughters, sons, or even neighbours become informal carers.

Aim:  To explore how hip fracture patients’ cognitive state affect family members’ experiences during the recovery period.

Methods:  Eleven diaries written by family members’ of hip fracture patients were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.

Findings:  The analysis generated two main categories with four categories. The first main category was; ‘Being a family member of a cognitively impaired patient’ with the categories ‘Dissatisfaction with lack of support’ and ‘Emotional distress due to the patient’s suffering’. The second main category was ‘Being a family member of a cognitively intact patient’ with the categories ‘Satisfaction with a relative’s successful recovery’ and ‘Strain due to their caring responsibilities’. Being a family member of a patient with cognitive impairment and a hip fracture meant being solely responsible for protecting the interests of the patient; in regard to care, rehabilitation and resources. The family members were also burdened with feelings of powerlessness and sadness due to the patients’ suffering. On the contrary, family members of cognitively intact hip fracture patients had positive experiences. The family members expressed pleasure from seeing their close ones make progress. However, when the healing process was delayed this led to strain on the family members.

Conclusions:  The findings suggest the hip fracture patient’s cognitive state is more decisive than the hip fracture itself for the family members’ experiences.

Background.  Numerous studies are available on hip fracture and rehabilitation outcomes, some mention dementia but very few from a family/proxy perspective.

Aim.  To investigate whether cognitive state influences the hip fracture patients’ rehabilitation outcomes as well as the proxies’ perceptions of the 6-month rehabilitation period.

Design.  A survey with structured and unstructured questions. Statistics and content analysis.

Methods.  The questionnaire was sent to 40 proxies of hip fracture patients with and without cognitive impairment, 32 replied. Statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results.  In the cognitively impaired group, physical function decreased (P = 0.0241) as well as locomotion (P = 0.0005) compared to pre-fracture. This group mainly participated in rehabilitation sessions in institutions (P = 0.0001) and their main support came from nursing staff. The cognitively impaired group assessed the rehabilitation period as being of a much lower quality than the cognitively intact group (P = 0.0048). In the impaired group, hindrances to rehabilitation were low level of staffing, and lack of access to rehabilitation resources such as physiotherapists.

Conclusions and relevance for clinical practice.  Hip fracture patients are a dichotomous group and cognition is decisive for physical and social outcomes as well as type of rehabilitation support.