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Delta Barthel Index Assessment Tool

Purpose: To determine the change in the Barthel Index for an elderly patient who has been hospitalized.

Description

Morandi et al used the delta Barthel Index to help to identify an elderly adult at risk for unplanned rehospitalization. The change in the Barthel Index over time can be measured in other ways. The authors are from multiple institutions in Italy, Vanderbilt University and the Department of Veterans Affairs.


 

 

Patient selection: elderly patient being discharged from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility

 

delta Barthel index =

= (usual Barthel index) - (Barthel index at rehabilitation admission)

 

where:

• The Barthel index ranges from 100 (normal function) to 0 (total disability)

 

Interpretation:

• A delta Barthel index > 56 had a hazard ratio of 2.7 for unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge.

• A delta Barthel index 25 to 56 had a hazard ratio of 1.6 for unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge.

• A negative Barthel Index would indicate that the patient is better than before hospitalization/

 

Variations:

(1) delta Barthel Index over time, with slope as recovery trajectory

(2) new baseline Barthel Index relative to previous usual health

 


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10