Sarcopenia is a major issue among the elderly. However, the effects of nutritional status and body composition on functional recovery in patients with proximal femur fractures (PFF) remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of nutritional status, body composition (skeletal muscle mass and muscle quality measured by phase angle [PhA] values), and muscle strength on the improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with PFF. We enrolled patients with PFF admitted to a rehabilitation unit. Nutritional status, body composition, grip strength, and motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score were assessed on admission day and at 4 weeks thereafter. Of 148 patients, 84 had femoral neck fractures, and 64 had trochanteric fractures. The mean motor FIM score was 49.2 points at admission and 64.9 points after 4 weeks. In multivariate analysis, higher geriatric nutritional risk index and PhA measured by anthropometry were associated with a significantly higher FIM score after 4 weeks. Muscle strength and quality changes significantly correlated with ADL improvement. Poor nutritional status and decreased muscle strength and quality interfered with ADL recovery. Nutritional management before injury and from the acute phase, and rehabilitation to maintain skeletal muscle status, are important for ADL recovery.
Keywords: ADL; body composition; elderly; proximal femur fractures; rehabilitation; sarcopenia.