Exploring the Effect of Preamputation Employment and Income on Ambulation in Dysvascular Lower Extremity Amputees After Amputee Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

• Published in: Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation Vol. 6; no. 3; p. 100359
• Main Authors: Murphy, Jessica, Staykov, Emiliyan, Monteiro, Amber, Monteiro, Sandra, Lin, Celina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amputation, surgical; Original Research; Rehabilitation; Retrospective studies; Social Determinants of health; Walk test; Retrospective studies; Social Determinants of health; SDH; GLM; Rehabilitation; Amputation, surgical; Walk test; ICF; 2MWT
• ISSN: 2590-1095; 2590-1095
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2024.100359

•Preamputation employment status may affect 2-minute walk test (2MWT) distance at discharge.•Preamputation household income does not appear to affect 2MWT distance at discharge.•More research is needed to understand the mechanism of possible effect of preamputation employment. To assess the relationship between 2-minute walk test (2MWT) distance, employment status, and median household income in adult dysvascular amputee patients after a 6-week rehabilitation program. Retrospective cohort study. Amputation rehabilitation program. In total, 505 patients were included in the analysis. Most (71.1%) were men and had below-knee amputations (78.3%); the average age was 65.3±11.6 years. Not applicable. 2MWT distance at discharge. Men (68.3±32.6m) and below-knee amputation amputees (70.9±32.0m) walked significantly further than women (58.8±30.0m; P=.003) and above-knee amputees (47.2±25.7m; P<.001), respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between 2MWT distance and age (r=−.32; P<.001) as well as time from consultation to admission (r=−.23; P<.001). An unadjusted general linear model (GLM) revealed that employment status (F2,446=17.47; P<.001) but not income (F4,446=.714; P=.58) was statistically significantly associated with 2MWT distance. An adjusted (age, sex, time from consult to admission, and amputation level) GLM revealed employment status remained significant (F2,434=5.59; P=.004) and income remained insignificant (F4,434=.43; P=.784). Differences in 2MWT distance between employment and income groups did not meet clinical significance. Preamputation employment appears to be associated with postrehabilitation outcomes.