RT Journal
A1 Fisher SR, Kuo Y, Graham JE, Ottenbacher KJ, Ostir GV
T1 EArly ambulation and length of stay in older adults hospitalized for acute illness
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2010
FD November 22
VO 170
IS 21
SP 1942
OP 1943
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.422
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.422
AB 
There are no therapeutic guidelines regarding ambulation for older adults hospitalized for acute illness.1 The importance of early ambulation to recovery in other patient populations is well established.2- 3 For example, time to ambulation after hip fracture surgery is a predictor of complications such as prolonged length of stay (LOS).4 In the present study, we examined the association between ambulation and LOS in geriatric patients admitted for acute illnesses. We hypothesized that increase in ambulation within the 48 hours after admission would predict LOS after adjusting for risk factors.