Association between worsening renal function severity during hospitalization and low physical function at discharge: a retrospective cohort study of older patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease from Japan

Key summary points Aim To clarify the impact of the severity of worsening renal function during hospitalization on low physical function at discharge in older patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Findings In this retrospective study, severely worsening renal function (grade III) during hospitalization was associated with low physical function at discharge, but moderate-to-mild worsening renal function (grades II or I) showed no such association. Message Limiting the severity of worsening renal function (grade III) during hospitalization might positively affect the physical function at discharge of older patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.