Deconditioning due to hospitalisation

Functional decline as a result of admission to hospital has been well documented since 1944. Older people are at much higher risk of deconditioning than their younger counterparts.

This research focus summarises two historic papers, which are early studies on deconditioning, and one recent study that records the incidence of iatrogenic disability during hospitalisation. It provides an evidence base for the recent popular #EndPJparalysis campaign initiated by Brian Dolan. Professor Dolan's campaign encourages patients to get up, get dressed and get moving while in hospital to speed their recovery and reduce their length of stay. It is seeing positive early results, as