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Apathy After Hip Fracture: A Potential Target for Intervention to Improve Functional Outcomes

Received November 26, 2007; revised February 11 and June 20, 2008; accepted June 24, 2008. Dr. Lenze is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine; Dr. Munin is affiliated with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Drs. Dew, Marin, Butters, Whyte, Begley, and Reynolds are affiliated with the Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research in Late Life Mood Disorders and John A. Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Dr. Skidmore is affiliated with the Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh. Address correspondence to Dr. Lenze, 660 S Euclid Ave. Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110; lenzee{at}wustl.edu (e-mail).

The authors examined apathy symptoms, their improvement, and their association with functional recovery after a hip fracture. Of 126 participants, 37% had clinically significant apathy symptoms, which predicted functional outcome (i.e., poorer recovery from the fracture among those with higher baseline apathy). Of participants with high baseline apathy, approximately one-third improved; these participants had a better functional outcome than those with persistently high apathy scores. It is concluded that apathy symptoms are common after a hip fracture, but improve in one-third of individuals, with a concomitant functional recovery after hip surgery. Interventions to prevent or improve apathy in elderly persons deserve further attention.

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